The Sunday Conversation | with Pastor Luke Okoro | 26. 12. 2021
John 10:10; 14:1-6. Romans 5:8. Isaiah 9:6-7.
“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power, who went about doing good and healingl all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” Acts 10:38.
“He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil” 1John 3:8.
“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the LORD, walk as children of light’. Ephesians 5:8.
Indeed, the arrival of Jesus on earth gave man unlimited access to God’s goodness and all grace — with the associated Privileges given to any Son or Heir apparent to any kingdom. And we are Sons, Heirs of the Kingdom, so says the Bible. Jesus initiated us as Heirs of the Kingdom of God His Father. He broke the wall of partition which separated us from His Father. And today we can call upon God as our Abba Father.
This rare privilege also broke the power of the devil from us who believe. The Bible tell us that JESUS was manifested to destroy the works of the devil. We are indeed liberated, set free from principalities and powers and rulers of darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places.
This is the victory we have ,, even in Christ Jesus. In 1 John 3:8 , quoted above, the Bible affirms that Jesus was manifested for this purpose: To destroy the works of the devil.
“For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ”. 2 Corinthians 4:6.
There is no doubt that Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. No wonder
the Bible gives a resounding testimony in Acts 10:38 , that God anointed Him with the Holy Ghost and with power and He went about doing good. He healed the lepers, He restored withered hands.
He gave sight to the blind. He made the lame to walk and He raised the dead. Luke 7:14.
In Luke 6:19, the Bible notes: ” The whole multitude sought to touch Him for there went virtue of Him, and healed them all “.
Consider these developments and it will amaze you how Jesus’ showing up for humankind altered lives and destinies.
Yes! Think about yourself.
Have you believed Him or integrated your life and destiny into His Strong arms ? The earlier the better – knowing that man born of a woman is of a short span .. and full of troubles too, Job 14:1.
As we conclude, let’s look at some lives and destinies which were transformed by Jesus for a new beginning, a new lease of life. In John 8, Jesus rescued a woman held hostage by religious and rapacious men , who accused her of sexual immorality without producing her male partner- in -crime.
But for Jesus, that woman would have been stoned to death. Jesus reinvented the life of that woman He gave her a new beginning, a second chance. Go, and sin no more, He charged her. This command is also needful for some of us today because’ we can’t afford to remain in sin until grace abound.
Let’s quit sinning.
In John 5, a man that was impotent, and lying by the pool of Bethesda for 38 years would have remained there for unlimited number of years.
A man of 38 years should have got his own family. But, he confessed that he had nobody… No wife, no children, no brothers and sisters or parents that could help him. What a wasted destiny. No wonder the Bible says the poor has no friends, and the poverty of the poor will destroy them.
However, his story changed when Jesus came to the scene. What do you want me to do for you?, Jesus enquired. The man went off tone to tell stories.
But Jesus the Christ– ever compassionate, ever loving and ever understanding our frailties– didn’t mind his wrong narrative. He healed him , even on a Sabbath to the anger of the Pharisees. He carried his bed and went home. Jesus broke down the limitations posed by man -made laws.
Jesus is the fulfilment of the law. With the healing of the impotent man, several destinies attached to his would bounce back.. a wife, children, in laws and business associates. It’s only a fool that says there’s no God. The healing of this man who had been bedridden for 38 years activated all moribund destinies around him. This is also the case with several people, including believers who are living sub – Christian Life.
Think of a husband who is laid-back by sexual immorality, drunkenness, drug addiction, perverse social lifestyle ?
Think of a mother caught up in sexual indiscipline, perverse social life, unbridled expensive lifestyle among others? Think of our young people who abandon their education, training and development for things of immediate profit or fleeting fantasies ? Now consider the wastage of destinies by these wayward dispositions. That was what happened to the impotent man before Jesus destroyed the works of the devil in his life.
Strangely, so many destines are wasting away , as it were even now. What is your contribution to salvaging these wasting destinies?.
The woman with the issue of blood in Matthew 9:20 suffered similar fate. The Bible says she was reduced to poverty. She suffered many things in the hands of various doctors . This happened for 12 solid years. You can imagine the extent of the financial loss to the family, apart from the loss of self esteem and personal dignity.
Then Jesus came and broke the work of the devil from her. Her dignity and self esteem were restored. Her livelihood was secured. All social relationships were also brought back intact. There was relief for everybody. Destinies around her were also restored.
In Luke 5, Jesus commanded Peter to throw the net for a big catch. And they caught so much fish that their net was breaking. At another place, He walked upon the sea, and calmed the stormy winds. Besides, He urged Peter to walk upon the waters as He had done.
Jesus truly came to demonstrate God’s power over the devil, over nature and over the forces of darkness, over sicknesses and diseases and over times and seasons as well as moon, sun and every other physical and spiritual elements named on earth , beneath the earth or above the earth. He commanded them , and they obeyed Him.
This power was subsequently transferred to us In Matthew 28:18-19:
18, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19, Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
20, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo , I am with you always, even to the end of the age”.
As believers, we must not succumb to the limitations posed by satanic forces and unrighteous governments or pay allegiance to these elements. God has given us authority and power over them.
And they are to obey us. We are not to worship them , serve them or cringe before them. We should, as Jesus demonstrated, exercise full authority and power over them The arrival of Jesus on earth gave us all these privileges.
Exercise them for your daily Christian VICTORY and the EMANCIPATION of DESTINIES attached to your own. This is the purpose of His coming. Jesus is LORD. Happy Celebrations. God bless you most graciously in Jesus’name.
(Concluded).
•Pastor Okoro can be reached on:
08051000462.
December 26.
