"Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to His good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:" (Ephe.1:9). "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." (Ephe.2:6). "Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come." (Ephe.1:21).May the eyes of your understanding be enlightened that ye may know and therefore "FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH" (1 Tim.6:12).
GOSPEL DISTRIBUTION MINISTRY, USA
(From a recorded sermon of Bro. Julius Adewumi at the Believers' Fellowship, Lagos, Nigeria. Dec. 1980)Who are these rulers of darkness spoken of by apostle Paul? In all the nations of this world, there are princes in the spirit realm just as there are physical princes and kings in the physical realm. Satan is said to be the prince of the power of the air, and the Lord Jesus said, before he went to the cross, that "the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me." (Jn.14:30). Who are those principalities and how do they rule in the spiritual realm to affect the physical? Perhaps some testimonies of what happened one time in my travel through a city will be pertinent. When I narrate to you what transpired in the city of Ile-Ife when we were passing through, preaching the word of God, then you will begin to get some knowledge. You will then realize why the bible said "be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God". (Rom.12:2).
I will remind you of the story of Daniel when he was praying for twenty one days and an angel was sent to him. The angel said to Daniel: " .. but the prince of the kingdom of Persia delayed me this one and twenty days. And lo, Michael, one of the chief princes came to help me .." (Dan.10: 13). In Ezekiel 28 verse 2, the Lord told the prophet, "Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus; thus saith the Lord God. Because thy heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a god, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man and not god. Though thou set thy heart as the heart of god". In verse 12, it said "Son of man take up a lamentation about the king of Tyrus and say unto him, thus saith the Lord God, Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty .. thou hast been in Eden the garden of God." That must be a personality other than Adam and Eve. In verse 14, it went further "thou art the anointed cherub that covereth and I have set thee so." It must be Lucifer himself or one of his devils. "Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created until iniquity was found in thee." (Eze. 28:12-15).In every kingdom, or city, there is always a king in that kingdom and a prince. In Tyrus, the king was said to be a cherub (a spirit being) and the prince was described as the physical ruler. (It can be vice- versa). Up till today, there is a spirit in every country ruling that country and every city. Those are the forces refered to by Apostle Paul when he wrote that "we wrestle against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Eph.6:11-14). Whatever is in the heart of the spirit ruler is what they enforce upon the physical ruler from the spirit.
The land of Palestine is the portion of land which the Lord has reserved for himself. Angel Michael was revealed as the great prince for the land of Israel (Dan.12:1). "And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people. And there shall be a time of trouble since there was a nation even to that time. And at that time, thy people shall be delivered, everyone that shall have there names in the book." Michael is the prince for both the physical Israel and the spiritual Israel. The gentile believers are the spiritual "Israel" and we have no land at present. But we have the promise of God that "the people of the saints of the most High will take the kingdom and possess the kingdom for ever" (Dan.7:27). The bible also said "the righteous shall inherit the earth". (Psa. 37:29).The physical world is controlled from the spiritual world. Therefore know that you can be more effective from the spirit through intercessory prayers. Also know that you have to be totally in opposition (with wisdom) to the systems of this world. One thing noticeable in the character of the Lord Jesus when he came was that he manifested totally contrary to the system of the world of that age. Even the system of their synagogue and temple. He was not previously registered to teach or to instruct in the temple. He went ahead teaching and the priests came to him and asked "who has given you this authority to do what you do?" Even about the system of taxation, what did the Lord say? He asked Peter, "of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? Of their children, or of strangers?" Peter said "Of strangers". "Then are the children free! Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go then to the sea, and cast an hook and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee." (Mat.17:24-27). Christ was born in the Roman empire so he could claim to be a son like apostle Paul used many times to free himself from lashes after he was arrested. Christ also can claim to be a stranger if only sons are taxed, because he said "ye are from beneath, but I am from above". (Jn. 8:23). But the Lord used wisdom where wisdom is needful.
In Dan.7, the vision was interpreted that one kingdom would overthrow the previous kingdom. But when the Kingdom of God shall come, it was prophesied that "I saw in the night visions and behold, one like the son of man, came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the ancient of days and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory and a kingdom; that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." (Dan.7:13-14). When God symbolized the kingdoms of this world, He used beasts, animals to represent them, for they always behave animalistically. But when he symbolized His kingdom, He used the symbol of a son of man. Some people thought the son of man in that vision was Jesus, when they try to distinguish Jesus from God. The son of man in the vision symbolized the "sons of God" who are to rule the earth with the rod of iron as said in Revealtion 12:5. Of course Christ is the head of his body. However the interpretation from the angel was clear. In verse 15 it said "these great beasts which are four are four kings which shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the most high shall take the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, even for ever and ever." So the "son of man" in that vision represented "the saints" of the most high God. "And the kingdom and dominion and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most high;whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominion shall serve and obey him". The Lord Jesus is God manifested in the flesh! "For in him dwelleth the fulness of the Godhead bodily" (Col. 2:9).In the end, God will set up his own kingdom on this earth and the sons of God will reign permanently for ever.
At present, in every nation and cities, the evil spirits are ruling. That is why there is continual perversion of justice. In the judicial system of many nations, the chief justices are regularly members of the secret cults formed by the evil cherubs of satan which rule the nation. Therefore take your battle spiritually at all times. Don't assume you are dealing with men concerning many things you need to get from some physical government offices. At this end of the world, God is raising up his own people that will take over the spiritual world and rule. What they say in the spirit will be the final. "For they are the sons of men". God will allow those forces of darkness to fight the sons of God in the spirit till the devils are subdued. Christ overcame the dragon and He is now the head of all principalities and powers. And Christ will bring many more sons unto glory. (Heb.2:10). God will allow those evil princes of the countries to confront his sons as He is raising them up. The sons of God will have to wrestle with those evil princes until the devils are subdued. When they are subdued, then the sons of God have the final say in the affairs of those nations in the spirit, while the world remains. I say while the world remains because in the end those satanic princes will be no more. (Revelation 12:11).Every country on this earth has got a spirit prince. The satanic principalities rule by perverting the judgement. They may also possess the physical ruler. That is why any christian should not get involve in the politics of the world. However it is still the Holy Ghost that controls the universe. "He that letteth will let until he be taken out of the way". The antichrist can only fully manifest when the sons of God are withdrawn. (2Thes.2:7). (Also - the corn and the wine is gathered-in before the feast of tabernacles. - Deut.16:13).
Now, in Rev.17 verse 9, we read: "Here is the mind which has wisdom; the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sitteth." Let's consider the beast in this chapter. The woman upon the beast was interpreted as "the city which reigneth over the kings of the earth". The scarlet-colored beast was described as having seven heads and ten horns. Verse 11: "And the beast that was and is not, he is the eighth and is of the seven, and goes into perdition." From this verse, I want to point to what I said about the rulers of the darkness of this world. The verse said there are seven kings; five are fallen. Prophetic scholars have pointed out that the former kingdoms that rule the world were portrayed in this beast such as The kingdom of Mesopotamia, the Egyptian empire, the babylonian kingdom, Medo- Persian kingdom, the Grecian kingdom of Alexander the great, till we come to the Roman empire. Suddenly another "Rome" came up after imperial Rome was broken apart. It said there were seven heads and the eighth is one of the seven. He was previously locked up in the bottomless pit as the bible said : "the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit" (Rev.11:7). The evil spirit has been upon the earth before he was locked up; but he will come again and take over as the antichrist spirit.Always remember that God is omni-present. He sees all things in all realms of the living. He sees the spirit beings, which are invisible to us, just as He sees us the physical beings on this earth. When God speaks to prophets, He can be addressing different realms of the living. Therefore the writings of the prophets very often need to be revealed. For an example, look at Ezekiel chapter 28, God spoke about a physical being as prince and a spirit being as king of Tyrus. No single nation dominates the whole world as of now. But the prophecy said the antichrist spirit will come out of the bottomless pit to rule the world and go into perdition. (Rev.13,17). The verse said "it's one of the seven". When you look at the characteristic of this antichrist beast and compare with the charateristics of the spirits that have ruled the world out of those seven earlier kingdoms, you should be able to identify the spirit in Babylon in the days of Nebuchadnezzar. With the help of the false prophet, an image will be raised up for this beast with a death-threat that all the earth should bow to this image, and anyone who will not bow should be put to death. (Rev.13:15). Now compare that to the threat from Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon and you will see the same pattern: Nebuchadnezzar raised up an image of gold and commanded all the rulers of the provinces to come and bow or be thrown into the fiery furnace which decree was defied by Shedrach, Meshach, and Abednigo. (Dan.3:6). That is why the bible said it is the same babylonic spirit which will rise up at the end of the world. Hundreds of years after the babylonian empire had been destroyed, the book of revelation still referred to "mystery, babylon the great" as the world system at the end of the world. God talks in the physical and in the spirit most of the times. Remember also the multi-metallic image in the dream of Nebuchadnezzar which was interpreted by Daniel the prophet as representing the world empires from babylon till the end. The head of that image was said to be Nebuchadnezzar -- the babylonian empire. (Dan.4, Rev.17). You can now recognise which evil spirit is the antichrist spirit that will rule the world as the eighth king, but is one of the seven. "Mystery, Babylon the great!"
Now the sons of God will take over the kingdom of the earth and rule in every city when Christ will finally reign supreme. In Rev.20, those that are beheaded for the name of Jesus lived and reign with Christ a thousand years. Before then, the sons of God who will be glorified at this end of the world are going to take over the spiritual world, and put all the devils under subjection when the dragon is cast out. That will be the battle in the spirit wherein it was written: "there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels and prevailed not." (Rev.12: 7). Listen to this testimony: By this testimony you may be able to understand what I was saying about the spirits that rule in the country and every other country. And you should be able to understand why the Lord said "Be ye separate! And touch not the unclean thing, and I will recive you unto myself. And I shall be your father , and you shall be my sons and daughters" (2Cor. 6:17). We were driving from Ibadan to Benin in Nigeria in 1977. We were preaching on that day, going towards Benin City. Then we reached the city of Ile-Ife. We were three in my vehicle (Bro David, Bro. Bola, and myself.) We stopped in the front of a house and were preaching on the street over a loud- speaker (PA system). Few people gathered and passers-bye took tracts. When we were about to round up, a man came out from the house in front of which we had parked, and said we should pray for him. Something was manifesting in the man which I want to point out to you. I recognised who was speaking from the man even though the brethren with me could not discern it at first. The man was not speaking of himself. When we were about to leave, the man asked one of the brethren "where do you come from?". I wanted to say "Can I help you?" He said "I am not talking to you, I am asking him" (pointing to the brother at the passengers side). He did not want to talk to me because I was the preacher. He was asking the brother, "where do you guys come from, because I do not know you?" He said further, "You see, all the preachers who are preaching in this country are preaching for me, but I do not know you; that is why I am asking where you come from". The brother whom he was talking to was dumbfounded. But listening from the driver's side I quickly discerned who was talking through the man: the evil spirits that rule the nation. (This was of-course after those spirits had confronted me in the spirit as I have related in my previous writing. (read revealed truth part 2). The brother was trying to tell him that our address is in the tract just write. The spirit in him said he did not know us because we are not of this world as the Lord has said. But many have turned the preaching of the gospel into a business enterprise. One minister sent his literature to me and his business name was "evangelist ABC incorporated". What is that? A business! Of course God has used those ventures to bring people to himself. Yes, people had been converted through those subdued ministries. In the end when the antichrist shall fully manifest, those ministries will have serious problems. It also means the ministers will not be able to spiritually subdue those evil principalities. At this end of the age, God is raising up people who will understand what goes on in the spirit, and will understand what they are doing. They will understand what matters. You cannot just say "it doesn't matter" to some things. Realizing what that spirit said through the man that "all those people who are preaching in the country are preaching for him", it becomes clear that the preaching of the gospel should not be taken as an enterprise. There are many mushroomed churches and fellowship groups which are unknown. What the devil is doing is to gather them together under an umbrella so that he can closely control them - actually trying to target the sons of God at the endtime. But God has gone ahead of the devil and given prophetic insight to some individuals to stay away from the confederation of churches. The devil wants them to be under a council of evangelists or council of churches. That was the spiritual reason behind those world councils, and accountability councils. Charles Price prophecy stated in part that "as a virgin woman brought forth Christ after the flesh, so shall a virgin church bring forth the first fruits after the spirit .. This church so brought forth and sealed with the mark of divine authority will have no bonds or imposition. But the holy unction among these new born spirits will be all in all."In continuation of the testimony, the man was in the occult group, and I will tell you how I knew. In fact the house in the front of which we parked our vehicle on that day while preaching in that town was the headquarters of the occultic group. I did not remember the following testimony when we were preaching on that day. It just happened to be the road which led to where we were going as we were passing through the city and the Lord told me to park and preach in front of that house. it was after we drove off when I remembered the following testimony.
I was still a college student in the same city of Ile-Ife, at the university of Ife, Ile- Ife, when this testimony occured two years prior to the previous testimony. It was during my final year in the college. The Lord told me to follow him into the city and I followed. Not realizing that he was going to give me an experience I will remember for years later, I took some tracts with me and tried to witness in the streets of the city to few people by passing out tracts. I was tired of walking and was returning to campus. Coming out of the market place I was on the same road which led to Benin City. As I was waiting to take a taxi, I stood in the front of the two-story building in the previous testimony. While standing on the road, people were passing by, some from the nearby motor-park and others from the market. A man and his wife were coming from the motor-park and they were talking. I heard what they were saying. They must be coming from a village by the luggages they carried. I believe the Lord wanted me to hear what they were saying, so that I can get the knowledge which gave me the quick discernment of the previous testimony. As the couple was about to pass by me, the man told his wife: "Do you see that upstair?" pointing to the house across the street from us. The woman said "yes, why?" The man said, "that was where we settled the quarrel". "Which quarrel?" the woman asked. "About the land issue with xxxx and yyyy; in this house was where it finally was settled. That was the headquarter of the Ogboni cult", the man concluded. When I heard what the couple said, I looked at the house again and said in my heart: really, this is their place? the cursed cult! --- they are my enemies!The man asked his wife "do you see that upstairs?" That was what the Lord wanted me to hear. When I heard their conversation, I looked again at the house and said "So that is the headquarter of the evil cult? I see! They are my enemies." Those who are aware of the spiritual world of darkness in the country know that the city of Ile-Ife was a base for many spiritism. Because the city was said to be the original city founded by the father of the Yorubas when he migrated to that part of Africa from Arabia, many cults among the Yorubas still refer to the city as their base. The city of Ile-Ife was to them as Egypt was renowned to the spiritualists many centuries ago even as it was written: "And Jethro said, Blessed be the Lord, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them." (Exo.18:10-11). They dealt proudly in supernatural powers, but God was above them.
The man told his wife that the land deal was finally settled in that house and that the house was the headquater of the Ogboni cult. They must have fought physically and spiritually on some land deals and the man perhaps was also spiritually involved. They could not settle the controversy until they took it to the cultic bosses. Those men in the evil cult usually try to trample upon common people with the threat of spiritual chastizement if the common people raise any cry, especially in land acquisitions. Many people always desire to be reckoned not as a common person by either joining the evil cults or by reseaching into charms and juju for their own protection. If the cultic leaders realize that they are confronted by a man who has more spiritual power than what they can trample upon, they will invite the man for reconciliation. That must have occurred to the man in my story assuming he was not part of their cult.The devil has his own men who have surrendered to Satan to be used for wickedness and evil practices at his will. But, as christians, we have not followed a cunningly devised fables when we follow Jesus Christ. (2Pet.1:16). That is what I want you to realize by telling you all these testimonies. Christ has overcome the world and He is now the head of all principalities and powers (Col.2:10). But the men of the underworld in many parts of the world are yet to see the true believers manifested in Christ. They are yet to see the power of this Jesus that can conquer their own spiritual power which they have acquired by their involvement in the cults. Some of them will voluntarily give up the evil side and come to Christ if only they can witness the true power of Jesus. Remember that many people in Ephesus casted down their curious arts to receive Christ: "And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed." (Acts. 19:18-20).
God is raising up a band of believers, sons of God called first fruits or manchild, for such purpose. These sons of God at this end time will appear as out of nowhere and become mighty spiritually to subdue the devils. "They shall be as coming out of the wilderness". They shall not come from known denominational church systems which the devils have already subdued. The devil will fight these sons of God as they are being formed as recorded: "and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born." (Rev.12:4b).********************************************************************** [ Michael shall stand up at this end of the age to deliver the people of God. The archangel Michael is the prince for the land of Israel. The gentile believers are now spiritual Israel, and we are joined to the prince of the land of Israel. When those satanic powers see God moving upon a believer to raise him up as a prophet, the devils will furiously go against the believer. Michael will appear as the captain of the host of God to fight off the satanic power. Most of these occurrences manifest first in the dreams and visions because the enemies are spirits, but we are spirit beings living in the tabernacle of flesh. When we have been empowered by God, our spirit will rise up and be awake when a spirit-enemy is closing in to attack us. Ordinary people will not wake up until the devils had pumped into their system the evil toxins or curses that will destroy the flesh. (Read "the unseen world" booklet.) Therefore when our spirit is awake and the body is sleeping, we will find ourselves in dreams or visions if another spirit comes around us. There may be a wrestling confrontation. If the attacker is stronger, the sons of God have help in God. I have seen on many occasions when the Lord will tell me not to fight the attacking spirit by myself but that I should ask the Lord to beat the devil for me. When I did the devil was smitten. At another instance I was inspired to call for Michael. I did and the attacking enemy was smitten.
I was in a vision one time. A giant spirit appeared and was pursuing me. I ran and climbed to the top of a tree. The devilish giant tried to fall the tree. Then something arrested him and his legs were being pulled apart by an unseen help. While he was screaming, I jumped down from the tree and ran before he could recover himself. As I was running away, another giant spirit appeared from one corner. Instead of this one pursuing me, he actually said he is at my service and that I should just tell him what he should do. I said "really?" He said "yes!" So I told him to go after the previous giant and beat him up anytime the devilish giant tried to come after me. And he went after the devilish giant for me. Amen!
God shall give us the sure mercies of David, wherein he said unto David "I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him" (Psa.89:23). God shall cause our enemies that rise up against us to be smitten before our face.Let us fear God, brethren! There was a day I was brought into this vision. I did not know how it started. I was sitted down and this same prince Michael brought a very wicked woman before me. It looked as if they were fighting but he was actually beating the woman. All the weapons of the woman did not hurt him. He was flogging the woman with many stripes. Then He said "bow down before him!" But the woman refused to bow before me. Then he took her again and whipped her several times, and the woman was fighting back only not hurting the man. He repeated the flogging several times until the woman was tired and she bowed down before me on her knees. While she knelt, Michael said I should say anything. I said "let her go and wash." I did not know why I said that, and I even stammered when saying it but that was what I meant. He took her and flogged her some more times and when he was going to release her he asked what she will do next, she said something but Michael reminded her "go and wash" because that was my instruction, though it sounded foolish. Then he threw her out through the window. The place was like up in the sky. Then I woke up.
If the Lord can cause a personality to be flogged before my face, because she would not obey me, as it happened on that day, we saints must fear the Lord and obey Him. "Fear the Lord ye his saints; for there is no want to them that fear him." (Psa.34:9). ] ********************************************************** We are to obey every word if we surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ. Whether it looks as if you will have suggested something else, just obey whatever he says. (Read Rapturing Faith part 5). The "taking over" of the kingdom of the earth by the saints of God is much more serious than we think. Know that we have a part to play also. For example, remember God could have simply destroyed the canaanites by himself and let the hebrews go in only to bury them. But He did not. He told the hebrews to fight them physically, and to destroy them. In similarity, the sons of God (human beings) also are being raised at this end time to be in the army of Michael who will overthrow the kingdom of darkness of this world and will cast down the dragon.You will see the final judgement of the devils in Isa.24 when those evil powers will be arrested and locked up in the pit. But before he does this, he will first make them to be subdued by the sons of God, which serves also to train these elect. (verse 21-22) "And it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord will purnish the host of the high ones that are on high and the kings of the earth upon the earth. And they shall be gathered together as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison. After many days shall they be visited." Those are the spirit-kings of the earth, not the physical men. That is why Christ went and took the keys of hell and of death. (Rev.1:18). There are many occassions when a devilish cult will plan evil against a person to destroy the person and the Lord will reveal to a prophet of the Lord the devil's plan and make the prophet pray against it. The prophet of the Lord has more authority than the wicked spirits and can have the errands of the evil cults bound even before they move.
I have been in visions, not once nor twice, when a newspaper column was showed to me about the obituary of an important figure. The Lord made me decree to cancel the evil plan of the devil concerning the personality. I need not know whether the person was on sick bed or in some other trouble during the time. All I knew was that the person's life was spared. Only heaven will tell all the love the Almighty God has shown to the sons of men, even to many who do not know him. We only know of the few He used us to accomplish. "Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men." (Psa.107:8). Remember how Elisha the prophet in Israel was warning the king of Israel about the plots of the enemy. The prophets are always used of God to fight more spiritual battles than those recorded. At this end of time God is raising up the sons of God to be used for more of such spiritual warfare as we have been describing. Those are intercessory works. When the devils plan an operation in an area, the faithful intercessor can keep those devils away. That is why the devils will go against the intercessors first to discourage them from praying or to make them lazy about prayers. If the intercessors pray in the night, the devils may attack the believer with drowsiness, and if by day, with lack of concentration. Therefore take intercessory prayers seriously!For instance, one morning I was praying outside my house in 1979 about 3.30am. Some devil-possessed birds were flying around to disturb my concentration that morning as I was praising the Lord. The devils knew that if I was not distracted, I might be inspired to pray against the evil they were planning against one family in the community that night. At about 4.00am, I saw the wind blew in one direction and all the birds followed the wind and flew away. That caught my attention and I was surprised. I had never experienced that before. When I went to the office in the morning the co-workers were talking about an employee who lost his teenage daughter that morning. I went also to console the man and learnt from him that his daughter was never sick until about midnight when it started and she was rushed to the hospital and at 4.00am, she passed away. When I heard 4.00am, I remembered what I experienced at 4.00am while praising the Lord outside my house. It was as if they carried something in the wind that blew which the witch- birds followed. (Read "the unseen world" booklet). That experience opened my understanding. When we are knowledgeable, if we sense the devils disturbing prayers, we ought to put aside every tiny hinderance and face the job at hand, because someone's life may be on the line. The devils cannot execute any evil if the Lord does not allow it. But "the Father has committed all judgement unto the son", "and hath given him authority to execute judgement also, because he is the son of man". (Jn.5:22,27). If you really understand these verses, a lot is resting upon our shoulders as saints of God. We are the body of Christ unto whom the Lord has given power to bind or lose anything on earth and it shall be bound in heaven. (Mat.16:19).
When a house is leased to a renter, he is to take care of everything about the house. If the house has a broken window, the landlord expect the tenant to fix it. If nothing is done, the landlord may notify the tenant to do something. If grasses overgrow the house, the tenant has the responsibility to do something as per the contract. Similarly, God has put us in charge of the earth when He placed Adam here. But Adam lost control and Christ has come and has returned the control to the saints of the Most High God. We are to resist the devils. "Whatever we shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven!" Therefore, put on the whole armour of God as the word of God has said. "Finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickednesses in high places". (Ephe.6:10-12). "Stand therefore having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;" (v.14). It means you must witness for Jesus! It's for your feet. "How beautiful upon the mountain are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; ... " (Isa.52:7). "The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them" (Pro.11:6). As you open your mouth to confess Jesus to any person, you are delivering yourself and you are also reminding yourself that you are called unto holiness and righteous living. Also the Lord said to the prophet Ezekiel "When I say unto the wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, the wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand." (Eze.33:8). Therefore you are delivering your own soul as you witness for Jesus. "Above all taking the shield of faith, wherewith you may quench all the fiery darts of the wicked; take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit which is the word of God." (Eph.6:16). After decking yourself with the protective equipments, you are not fighting yet until you draw the sword of the spirit which is the word of God. (To learn about how to use the word of God as a weapon for the spiritual battle, read Rapturing Faith part 11).In summary, the world is ruled as of now by the forces of darkness. But the Lord has revealed that "the people of the saints of the Most High shall take over the kingdom and shall possess it for ever, even for ever and ever." (Dan.7:18,27).
"And they overcame him (the dragon) by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death". (Rev.12:11). Amen!The following is the excerpt from a minister of God about the hidden army of God at this end-time.
(Quote) *************************************************************** There is something very powerful and awesome going on in the world today! ************************************************************** God is at work doing something hidden and quiet -- and it is so supernatural, it's beyond human comprehension. Yet what He is doing right now is going to affect the whole world in these last days. *God is preparing a small but powerful army of Christians!* This army is going to be the most dedicated on the face of the earth. And the Lord will come forth to command them to do exploits and shake hell. He is going to close out the ages with a pure, devoted, fearless remnant! All my life I have heard stories about our godly forefathers who hated sin. These were men and women who spent hours, even days, in fasting and prayer. They knew God's voice. They prayed unceasingly. And they had the power and ability to successfully stand up against immorality in their day. These forefathers have long since passed. But God is in the process right now of raising up another army -- only this time His warriors will not be made up only of elderly, gray-haired fathers and mothers of Zion. This new army will be composed of believers both young and old -- ordinary Christians who lay hold of God! A whole new realm of ministry is about to come forth! The denominational church system appears to be in the throes of death. It has almost no influence in the secular world, no mighty power in Christ. Growing numbers of ministers are falling on all sides -- to adultery, covetousness, pride and perversions of all kinds. Pastors of evangelical churches are bringing in entertainment and showmanship. One pastor boasted, "We want to give Broadway to our people." I know of evangelical congregations in which at least 50 percent of the couples are divorced. In some areas, that figure is as high as 80 percent, according to church members who write me. Adulterers, fornicators, people involved in the occult and witchcraft -- it's all creeping into the church of Jesus Christ. Some accuse me of being "hard" on pastors. Not so -- because I am in touch with many godly pastors who grieve as I do over the backsliding in the ministry today. There is a holy remnant of godly pastors in the land, and I thank God for every one of them. Yet it is still a fact that more and more ministers are racing down the road of compromise and corruption. And right now the world is mocking the house of God! The devil is swaggering about, claiming victory through legal abortion, rampant homosexuality, drugs, alcohol, Satanism and an Islamic invasion. *Yet the Bible says we are not to fret!* God has a plan, and His plan is being manifested. It is put forth plainly in the Scriptures. In fact, every demon in hell knows about it! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Much of God's Plan Can Be Found in the First Four Chapters of First Samuel. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The prophet Samuel is a type of God's holy remnant. The Lord chose him amid the worst of times and hid him away in training until it was time to bring forth His new thing. God told Samuel, ************************************************************************ "Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle" (1 Samuel 3:11). *********************************************************************** (end-quote). (D.W)Behold the time is here. The devil is defeated. Let the saints rejoice in the Lord our God! Now stir up the gift that is within you and arise to work for the Lord's kingdom if you know you belong or want to be part of this final move of Almighty God. Amen!
David's life typified the call of God at this end time. God was building up David while he was yet following the sheep-cotes. From the time he was anointed by Samuel till he slew Goliath of Gath, it was in secret. When He killed the giant he became a popular figure. However, after King Saul declared David as his enemy, the public opinion was divided. People are bound to take sides. Some saw David as proud, because they are of the class of King Saul. But God did not see it that way. One such fellow was Nabal the Carmelite who said: "who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants nowadays that ran away every man from his master." Nabal died ten days later! (1 Sam.25:10). But Abigail, Nabal's wife, saw David differently when she said unto David: "I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the Lord, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days. Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the Lord thy God; but the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out as out of the middle of a sling." (1Sam.25:28-29). She became David's best companion.
Which side are you? Are you on God's side? then praise the Lord and be not afraid, for the battle is the Lord's. Prepare yourself and seek the Lord more. God bless you.