Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Good evening. God bless you all richly. I hope you're all keeping safe and doing your very best to stay alive and well in this season.
It is my prayer for you and I that as we approach the month of August, the best of heaven in provision, preservation, and protection will continue to be our portion, even as we remain in his awesome presence. Till this siege is over. This heartfelt prayer is based on Psalm 27 from verse 4 to 9. Psalm 27, 4 to 9. It reads and I quote. One thing I've desired of the Lord.
That will I seek. That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. To behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.
Why? For in the. time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion and the secret place of his tabernacle he shall hide me he shall set me high upon the rock and now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me therefore i will offer sacrifices of joy in his tabernacle i will sing yes i will sing praises to the lord here oh lord when i cry with my voice you Have mercy also upon me and answer me. When you said, seek my face, not my hand. When you said, seek my face, my heart said to you, your face, Lord, I will seek.
Do not hide your face from me and do not turn your servant away in anger. You have been my help. Do not leave me now.
Forsake me, O God of my salvation. I want you to underline that. Do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation. Dear friends, that last verse says, Do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation. As free moral human agents with a power of choice, we have the right to make a choice in what and in who we believe in times like these.
The daily bombardment of the airwaves by scientific... experts in the field of virology and other health workers, both qualified and quirk, can be very worrisome to those who drink daily from their fountain. Those who recognize Almighty God as the God of salvation have nothing to fear because it will make a way for them in the midst of this current or any future pandemic. This is God's promise that comes with a package of salvation as clearly stated.
In Psalm 68, verse 1 to 3, and then I will read verses 19 and 20. Psalm 68, 1 to 3 reads, and I quote, Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered. Let those also who hate him flee before him. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away. As wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
Let the righteous be glad. Let them rejoice before God. Yes.
Let them rejoice exceedingly. And in verse 19 it states. Blessed be the Lord. Who daily loads us with benefits.
This is one of the reasons we rejoice in his presence. Blessed be the Lord. Who daily.
Not monthly. Like in your salaries. Not annually.
Who daily loads us with benefits. The God of our salvation. Meditate upon that. But he daily loads of his benefits as God of our salvation. And now listen to this.
Our God is a God of salvation. And to God the Lord belongs escapes from death. Our God is a God of salvation. And to God the Lord belongs escapes from death. If I will testify tonight.
I can pinpoint at least four different. times in my life that I had close encounter with death but for the intervention of God right from my teenage years until recent times in my 60s God came in at the appropriate time before death could snatch me and he granted me escape from death to God our Lord belong escape from death and it is my prayer that regardless of what happens in this season you will escape Let me state unequivocally here and now that this is one of the promises of God I'm standing on in this season. And I'm encouraging you at the same time in this season of uncertainty to take this same promise to the bank of heaven and cast same for your benefit during your dedicated time of prayer and devotion.
Listen to Apostle Paul in this regard and be encouraged to stand strong in the face of this current global crisis. 2 Corinthians 1, verse 8 to 11. I'm going to read it from three or four different translations. So that we can glean the truth about this promise of God. And know on what scriptural ground we stand when we face the challenges of this day and this season. 2 Corinthians chapter 1, 8 to 11. The New King James Version reads, and I quote.
For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia. You can put any nation there. It will still apply. That we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves.
That we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead, who delivers us from so great a death, and does deliver us in whom we trust, that he will still deliver us. You also helping together in prayer for us. Please underline that.
You also happen to gather in prayer for us that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many. Let's check that in the NIV translation. NIV translation. We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters. That is, we don't want you to be ignorant of fire.
Lack of knowledge destroys so many people, even within the church. We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure.
And I went through some of this in this season before God's intervention. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we disappeared of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death.
But this happened. That we may not rely on ourselves, but on God who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril.
And he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope. That he will continue to deliver us. As you help by your prayers.
The many we give thanks on our behalf. For the gracious favor granted us. In answer to the prayers of many.
Let's read that. in the New Living Translation. I'm going somewhere.
New Living Translation reads, and I quote, We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure. And we thought we would never live through it. Have you experienced that? In fact, we expected to die.
But as a result, We stop relying on ourselves and learn. That's the critical factor there. We stop, when you don't know what to do, stop doing anything.
Stop trusting the arms of flesh. But as a result, we stop relying on ourselves and learn to rely only on God who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger and he will rescue us again.
We have placed our confidence in him. And if we continue to rescue us, and you are helping us by praying for us, then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety. I cannot thank multitudes of people praying for me day and night.
Saints of God, especially in this season, with new challenges and new opportunities, but for your prayers, only God knows what would have happened. And I say thanks to God tonight. was graciously answered the prayers of many for our safety.
Let's read that in the message translation. The message translation. Listen to it.
We don't want you in the dark, friends, about how hard it was when all this came down on us in Asia province. It was so bad, we didn't think we were going to make it. We felt like we had been sent to that role, that it was all over for us.
As it turned out, and if anybody's on a death row because of sickness, because of COVID-19, because of one disease or the other, our underlying factors, listen to me tonight. Salvation is coming your way. Healing is coming your way.
Deliverance is coming your way in the name of Jesus. Listen to Paul. We felt like we had been sent to death row, that it was all over for us.
As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Instead of trusting my own strength. All which to get out of it were first to trust God totally.
Not abide there. Since he is a God who raises the dead. And he did it. Rescued us from certain doom. And he will do it again.
Rescuing us as many times as we need rescuing. You and your prayers are part of the rescue operation. That is very vital.
And about the subject that I'm dealing with tonight. You need to underline that in your Bible. You and your prayers are part of the rescue operation.
I don't want you in the dark about that either. I can see your faces even now lifted in praise for God's deliverance of us, a rescue in which your prayers played such a crucial part. Hallelujah. There you have it, brothers and sisters.
When the world is in a panic mode, believers should be in prayer mode. for one another until we collectively obtain the victory over the COVID-19 pandemic and all its attendant political, economic, and social consequences in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.
That brings me to the subject of our contemplation this evening, the believer's jurisdiction and the exercise of our spiritual authority. The believer's jurisdiction and the exercise. Of our spiritual authority. Let us pray.
Father in the name of Jesus we thank you. For the opportunity we have to land at your feet once again. Even in our present circumstances. Through the deployment of technology. We know that there is no distance in the spirit.
And that at the entrance of your world. Brings light and understanding to the simple. So right now by the auspices of the Holy Spirit. We receive inspiration. Illumination.
and revelation. We ask in faith, nothing doubting, and the word we receive tonight will propel us into positive action in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.
The believer's jurisdiction. Tonight we are examining the authority of the believer, past, present, and future, within the context of the believer's jurisdiction. One of the most powerful revelations from God's word ministered in our generation has been the teaching on the authority of the believer.
Understanding this one truth has set many Christians free from satanic manipulations and spiritual amputations. It is therefore absolutely essential that we understand not just our spiritual and legal authority over Satan and his horse, but also how to exercise that authority. Or what benefit will it be to us if we know that we are free from Satan's power, but don't know how to appropriate our freedom? Therefore, to simplify this message, we will start by establishing in the Word of God our legal and spiritual authority over Satan and his host, and proceed from there to establish the five... major, authentic boundaries of the believer's jurisdiction.
If we cannot do all the five tonight, we'll do the rest. We'll take some tonight and do the rest at the communion table of the Lord on Friday at 7 p.m. by God's grace.
First, our legal position of authority. For this purpose, we'll consider the legal authority of the believer as spelled out. in Ephesians chapters 1 and 2. In Ephesians chapter 1, Paul the apostle prayed for the church that the eyes of our understanding may be enlightened so that we can see that God has positioned his son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, in a place of prominence and power.
Let us read this together from Ephesians chapter 1, verse 15 to 21. He reads, and I quote, Therefore I also... After I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. Do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you will not be as blind as a bath, though you are born again.
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling. What are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints? And what is the exceeding greatness of his power? To others who believe. According to the working of his mighty power.
Which he walked in Christ. When he raised him from the dead. And seated him.
Where? At his right hand. In the heavenly places. Far above.
Please underline that. That's where he's seated tonight. Far above. Since he rose from the dead.
And ascended into heaven. That has been his prime position. Far above all principality and power. And might and dominion. And every name that is named.
Not only in this age. But also in that which is to come. Let me emphasize that again.
Where is Christ seated? On the right hand side of power. Far above all principality.
And power. And might. And dominion.
And every name that is named. Not only in this age, but also in that which is to come, present and future. This text of scripture is in line with what the Lord Jesus himself declared to his 11 apostles after his resurrection from the dead. Listen to Jesus as he spoke to them. Matthew chapter 28 verse 16 to 20. Matthew 28, 16 to 20. Then the 11 disciples went away into Galilee.
To the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. I've emphasized that in times past. This is the hour you must know. Your appointed mountain. That will be your power slot.
And when they saw him. They worshipped him. But some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them saying. All authority.
Not some. All authority has been given to me. In heaven and on earth.
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, Nigeria inclusive, regardless of what is happening right now. Things are going to change for the better in the name of Jesus. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 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.
From these two texts of scriptures, Ephesians 1, 15 to 21, and Matthew 28, 16 to 20, we learn that Jesus is positioned in the highest place of spiritual authority. He's seated over all the powers of the enemy. The significance of Jesus' preeminent position over Satan and over his host can also be seen In the course of his earthly ministry, when the 70 disciples the Lord sent out to preach the gospel returned with their amazing results.
Right there and then, as they were giving him the report of their exploits, Jesus gave them, and by extension to all believers, to all Christians, power over all the power of the enemy. Luke chapter 10, verse 17 to 24. Luke 10, 17 to 24. Then the serpent returned rejoicing, Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name. And he said to them, I saw past. I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy. And nothing shall by enemies hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this.
Do not be a demon chaser and let that excite you all the time. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven. And in that hour, Jesus rejoiced in the spirit. What is giving him this joy, bubbling from within? In that hour, Jesus rejoiced in the spirit and said, I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth.
That you have hidden these things from the wise and prudent. And revealed them to babes even so father. For so it seemed good in your sight.
All things have been delivered to me by my Father. And no one knows who the Son is except the Father. And who the Father is except the Son.
And the one to whom the Son wills to reveal him. May the Lord Jesus by the Holy Spirit reveal the Father to you tonight. So that you not panic in this season.
And you come to understand that your life is hidden with Christ in God. And he turned to his disciples and said privately. Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it. This piece of good news that caused the Lord Jesus to rejoice in the Spirit is now spelled out for the post-resurrection saints in Ephesians chapter 2. Therein we find How the truth, not just of the spiritual position of the Lord, but how God Almighty through Christ's sacrifice had also positioned us in the same place.
We now know that God did not just raise Jesus from the dead and positioned him in a place of authority far above all principalities and powers, but that he has also raised us all from the dead and positioned us with Christ in that same position of authority. Ephesians chapter 2 verse 1 to 6. Ephesians 2 verse 1 to 6. In the loss of our flesh. Fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind. And were by nature children of wrath.
Just as the others were not better than the worst of sinners in this world. But for the mercy of God. The God who is rich in mercy. Because of his great love with which he loved us. Even when we were dead in trespasses.
Made us alive together with Christ. By grace you have been saved. And raised us up together.
He made us alive. Raised us up together. And made us sit together.
Where? In the heavenly places. In Christ Jesus. Where exactly is that?
Ephesians 1.19-21. Where exactly is that? Ephesians 1.19-21. And what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe.
According to the working of his. mighty power which he was in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named not only in this age but also in that which is to come people of God through our identification with Christ we have the same legal authority over the devil That Jesus had and still has. This is what is encapsulated in 1 John 4, verse 17. That as Jesus is, so are we in this world. Listen to 1 John 4, verse 17. Love has been perfected among us in this. That we may have boldness in the day of judgment.
Why? Because as he is. As he is presently now, seated in heavenly places.
Far above all principalities and powers and dominion, a name that is named anywhere under this universe as it is, so are we in this world. However, as incontrovertible as this truth is, there are boundaries of jurisdiction within which every believer may exercise his God-given authority. Outside of these boundaries, no believer, no matter the anointing or the office it seems to occupy or claims to occupy.
Outside of these boundaries, no believer can effectively exercise his authority. Therefore, we must all identify these boundaries with determining the extent and limitations of the believer's authority. I have, by God's grace, identified five of such boundaries, but I will only share, as I promised, one of them tonight. Because of time. The remaining four, as I said, we have to wait until Friday during our virtual corporate communion service.
For tonight, the boundary we are examining digitally is the boundary of the spiritual realm. Write that down if you're writing. The boundary of the spiritual realm.
Please turn your Bible with me to 2 Corinthians chapter 10. And I will read from verse 3 to 6. Please pay attention. The boundary of the spiritual realm. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not walk according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, that is, they are not man-made, but mighty in God.
For pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. Bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. And being ready to punish all disobedience when you're...
obedience is fulfilled. In this passage just read, we have a very important boundary that governs our authority as believers. Brothers and sisters, the true jurisdiction of the believer is in the realm of the spirit. Our authority is not a natural authority, but a spiritual one.
Ephesians chapter 6 Verse 10 to 18, please pay attention because I'm going to draw a lot of principles out of this. Finally, my brethren, by strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Now when you see finally, my brethren, the passage did not start from there.
It started from Ephesians chapter 1, where Christ was clearly positioned above all principalities and powers. And dominions are named, that is named here. Ephesians chapter 2, where you and I are raised together with him and our position in the same place.
It's from that standpoint of victory and accurate positioning that now says, Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood. Please underline that tonight. The reason you are defeated most of the time is because you have descended into the arena of flesh and blood when you are doing your warfare.
You are imagining enemies in flesh and blood. You are using tactics and strategies of human wisdom and carnality to fight. You will always be defeated.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers. against the rulers of the darkness of this age. Remember, we are seated above them against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. I want you to imagine for a second time the game we played when we were young.
Aircraft is flying and we take a stone. Pim! We throw at the aircraft with all of our might, but it returns to the ground.
It doesn't get anywhere. If you are seated with Christ and Satan is here, all that he can do is to be shooting into the air. as to be fighting as one that beats the air. But when you descend into his arena and you begin to use kind of weapons, he defeats you.
Here is the counsel of God. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and haven't done all to stand. Stand therefore, having guarded your ways with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, having showed your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Above all, taking the shield of faith, with which you'll be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one, and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit.
None of this is man-made. None of this is canal. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Verse number 18. This is how you deploy these spiritual weapons. Praying always with all prayer. and supplication in the spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.
Simply put, our authority is not in the natural realm. Although it can be used to change circumstances in the physical realm, it is not from the physical realm that we operate or exercise our intervention. That's why believers don't fight for victory, we fight from victory. From that position of authority where Christ is placed and where we have been placed alongside with him. Our spiritual authority is exercised from our position in Christ.
For example, married couples who are immature in the things of the spirit and who do not fully understand this principle, will descend into the natural realm and use carnal weapons of malice, verbal attack against their perceived enemies, whether they are in-laws or they are spouses, whether father, mother, or brother or sister-in-law, as the withdrawal of favors even from themselves, husband and wife, to their own detriment. Then the things that God has given to such couples for their mutual benefit will now be deployed for their mutual destruction. Instead of operating in discernment, they will begin both to operate in mutual suspicion, suspecting themselves, and in the process, they end up wrestling with flesh and blood rather than stepping into the spiritual realm with their spiritual weapons to scatter the spiritual forces influencing or operating through such flesh and blood, whether they are in-laws or even their spouses.
However, if they step into the spiritual realm and use the weapons of preaching, of praying, of confessing, of praise and worship, And all those spiritual weapons spelled out in Ephesians chapter number 6 that we just read, spelled out in the word of God, they will by so doing be fighting the good fight of faith. We are not asked to fight any other fight. Fight the good fight of faith. If the weapons of our warfare are not carnal brothers and sisters, if they are not man-made, then they are spiritual. Period.
So anytime you are not deploying those spiritual weapons and you descend into Canaan Ram and you use insults, you insult yourself, you exchange verbal violence and verbal abuses, you are already defeated by the enemy. Therefore, listen to me tonight. To war after the flesh is to war outside the range of believers of...
authority and each time we do that the feat is inevitable and when we remain in the realm of the spirit we can exercise our right to intervene in the matters of this world people of god let me make it absolutely clear for the umpteenth time supernatural things are bound to happen when we learn to stay in our lane and exercise our spiritual authority In the realm of the spirit through prayer. Examples abound in scripture. Let's examine some of them tonight. Please turn your Bible with me to Acts 12, 1 to 19. Acts of the Apostles, chapter 12, verse 1 to 19. It reads, and I quote, Now about that time, Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James, the brother of John, with his sword.
And because he saw that he pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the days of unleavened bread. That's around Easter, around resurrection time.
A wrong time to move. Because of his resurrection power that is in operation. In the lives of those who truly believe and know how to maintain their standing Christ.
Well, well, well, we said, how about James then that was beheaded? Well, James went before the Lord. Jesus asked him, are you able to drink the cup that I drink?
He said, yes. He said, you will drink. So it's by choice. You have free moral agent. Now in verse 4. So when he had arrested him, that is Peter, he put him in prison and delivered him to four squirts of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.
Peter was therefore kept in prison. Hello, is anybody listening to me tonight? Peter was therefore kept in prison by the powers that be, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.
And when Herod was about to bring him out that night, Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers. Even if he wanted to get away, the two soldiers would grab him and knock him down. Bound with two chains between two soldiers and the guards before the door.
Were keeping the prison. There were those keeping the prison outside. There were those in charge of Peter directly.
They were chained. He was chained to these two soldiers. Now behold an angel of the Lord stood by him.
And Elijah shone in the prison. And he struck Peter on the side and raised him up saying, Arise quickly. You see, spiritual warfare is taking place now.
The soldiers who were there couldn't see the angel that entered. Even Peter himself had to be struck. And he struck Peter on the side and raised him up saying, Arise quickly.
And his chains, natural weapons, fell from his feet. Give me that please. I want to read properly.
And his chains fell off. his hands. Go on.
Then the angel said to him, Guard yourself and tie on your sandals. And so he did. And he said to him, Put on your garment and follow me. So he went out and followed him and did not know. Peter did not know that what was done by the angel was real.
By thought, he was seeing a vision. Remember he was sleeping when all this was happening and when the angel woke him up. When they were past the first and the second guard post, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city which opened to them of its own accord. Did the angel have remote control? And they went out and went down one street and immediately the angel departed from him.
God would not do for you natural things that you can do for yourself. Peter knew where he was now so he could proceed with the journey. The angel departed. And when Peter had come to himself, he said, Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent his angel and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people. So when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John, whose name was Mark, where many were gathered together, praying.
Hello. They gathered together, praying. And... As Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. When she recognized Peter's voice, because of her gladness, she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate.
Who is going to believe this? But he said to her, you are beside yourself. You are crazy.
You are out of your mind. Yet she kept insisting that it was so. And then they said, it must be his angel. It cannot be Peter, because they are so used to natural, mundane. fighting in the natural, going to court and getting a lawyer and getting a bail.
Somebody is filing abias corpus, produce a body, and they will struggle with all that. Now Peter continued knocking. And when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison.
And he said, go tell these things to James and to the brethren. And he departed and went to another place. Which James is this?
That's not James the apostle. That was James, the brother of the Lord Jesus. Then as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter. When Herod had searched for him and not found him, and he alone, anyone that God has kept, there's no Herod of this world that can harm them.
When Herod had searched for him and not found him, he examined the guards and commanded that he should be put to death. And he went down. He went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.
And that was where he died because an angel slapped him there. What am I trying to bring out of here? People of God, for the release of Peter from prison, prayer was made without ceasing by the church unto God. They did not launch a protest or lobby for their cause or even engage a lawyer to go to court and file.
Abias Corpus on his behalf. I'm not saying those things are wrong, but I'm saying they are natural weapons. What did they do?
They simply stepped into the jurisdiction where they could bring forth supernatural results and lifted up their voices in prayers. In response to that prayer, Peter's circumstances were radically altered. An angel came and freed him from prison.
Not only were Herod and his henchmen surprised, even the church was surprised at the swift and amazing results that God by simply stepping over into the realm of the Spirit and praying. Brothers and sisters, let us learn to stay in our lane and keep the devil on his own side of defense. If he trespasses, then he can be promptly prosecuted and dealt a fatal blow.
I have no doubt that the church was motivated to pray without ceasing for Peter's release because Apostle Peter and John, as well as the other apostles, had modeled this type of accurate response before the saints to the threats, to the intimidations and imprisonment unleashed against them by the enemies of the cross. We are to then model that. Acts of the Apostles, chapter 1, chapter 4. I beg your pardon from verse number 1. Now as they spoke to the people, the priest, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, being greatly disturbed that they told the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
And they laid hands on them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. However, many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to be about 5,000. You cannot diminish the church. There is no COVID-19 or 20 or 30 that can diminish the church of Christ.
The church is marching on. The gates of hell will not prevail against it. And it came to pass on the next day that their rulers, elders, and scribes, as well as Annas, the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, you see names being listed, your own name will be listed hereafter as to the role you played in this season. They were gathered together at Jerusalem.
And when they had said them in the midst, they asked, By what power or by what name have you done this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers of the people and elders of Israel, if we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all and to all the people of Israel. Now by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him this man stands here before you whole. This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.
Now is there salvation on the line days? I don't care what type of person you are and what type of worship you do and what you think your faith is. Now is there salvation in any other?
For there is no other name. under heaven given among men by which you must be saved. And when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled and they realized they had been with Jesus.
That is the difference. Are you with Jesus? And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. What did they do?
But when they had commanded them to go outside out of the council, they confided among themselves, listening. Listen to their conference. Saying, what shall we do to this man? For indeed that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem.
And we cannot deny it. See, there are people who try to destroy what God is doing. Misuse their tongues and talk ill of things they don't understand. But there's nothing you can do against the truth before the truth.
Now, but so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them. that from now on they speak to no man in this name. So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all, not teaching the name of Jesus, unlike the response of Peter and John.
But Peter and John answered and said to them, whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge, for we cannot but speak the things which you have seen and heard. So when they had further threatened them, they let them go. They have imprisoned them, put them in custody. Now they are threatening them.
They let them go, finding no way of punishing them because of the people, since they all glorify God for what had been done. What then was the response of the church? For the man was over 40 years old, on whom this miracle of healing had been performed. Verse 23, and being let go after the threats, after they had put them in custody, what was their response?
Did they react? Did they try to fight? Being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.
So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God who won our court and said, Look, they started praying again. This is where our strength lies. Not in counter-argument, not in replying idiots and reacting to all negative things.
They They raised their voice to God with one accord and said, Lord, you are God who made heaven and earth and the sea and all that is in them. Who by the mouth of your servant David have said, Why did the nations rage and the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ. For truly against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and the people of Israel were gathered together to do whatever your hand.
They thought they were doing what was in their mind to do. No! To do whatever your hand and your purpose determined before to be done.
This is why you must be strong. If they are throwing bricks at you and all kinds at you. If God permits it.
It's because those bricks and those stumbling blocks are going to become your stepping stones into greatness. Now Lord look on their threads. And what did they say? Oh Lord we are afraid now. Look on their threads.
Give us men. Let some people in high places speak. No.
Lord, look on their threats and grant to your servants with all boldness that they may speak your word. By stretching out your hand to heal, shut the mouth of the wicked by signs and wonders performed by you. By stretching out your hand to heal and the signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus. That's where the church needs to get back into.
Our response to the intimidation of the evil one are signs and wonders. Done. By the hand of the Lord as we declare his word. And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. And they spoke the word of God with boldness. People of God, whatever you do in this season, please do not allow the circumstances thrown at you by the enemy to hinder or manipulate your prayer life.
Hear me loud and clear. Satanic manipulation. is a doorway to spiritual amputation.
Satanic manipulation is a doorway to spiritual amputation. Therefore, I appeal to you, in line with the word of God in Hebrews 12, 12-13, to strengthen the hands which hang down and the verbal knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. When that happens, then we can all corporately engage in the prayer of power so that we can experience the power of prayer.
I like to say that again. When we strengthen the hands that hang down, the feeble knees, and we make straight paths for our feet and refuse to be distracted by those who misuse their tongues, by those who speak ill of us behind our back, who are not bold enough to say it in our presence. When that happens, when we step into the realm of the Spirit, we can then corporately engage in the prayer of power.
prayer of power so that we can experience the power of prayer. Listen to Paul. As he shared this truth with the church at Philippi, he was so confident that supernatural things would transpire when they exercise the authority in the realm of the spirit through prayers. Philippians chapter 1, 19 to 21. Philippians 1, 19 to 21. For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer. Underline it.
I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. I cannot thank those of you there who are praying for me day and night. That I will not fail.
I will not falter. I will not fall by the wayside. I will continue to praise. The best of men are still men at the best.
At the very best. But when you pray and I pray for you, we can both be encouraged. Is that... I know this will turn out for my deliverance.
I cut through your prayer and the supply of the spirit of Jesus Christ. According to my earnest expectation and hope. That in nothing I shall be ashamed. But with all boldness as always. So now also Christ will be magnified in my body.
Whether by life or by death. For me to live is Christ. And to die is gain. People of God.
In my walk with God, I've long since discovered that nothing works effectively in this realm better than the fervent prayer of the righteous. James chapter 5, verse 13 to 18. James 5, 13 to 18. Listen to it. Is any among you sovereign? Let him pray. This is scriptural prescription for whatever you are going through in this season.
Is any among you sovereign? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.
Is any among you sick? Anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
And the prayer of faith, we save the sick and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed. They affect him.
Result-oriented. The effective. The one that produces results.
The effective fathom. Boiling point. The one that reaches the boiling point.
The effective fathom prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours. And he prayed honestly that it would not rain. And it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again and the heavens gave rain and the earth produced its fruit.
If Elijah was a man of like passion like us, a man of nature like us, but who knew how to step into the realm of the Spirit, time had come for you and I to also step into the realm of the Spirit. Now, please don't misunderstand me that I'm asking you not to use medicine or to contact doctors or just call pastors and let them pray for you and that will be all. That's not what I'm saying. By this scripture. I'm not discouraging any one of you from taking advantage of medicine.
Not at all, because I also do whenever I need to. Rather, all I'm doing is to remind you that doctors can treat, only God can kill. What can anyone, whether saint or sinner, do now that there is no immediate cure or vaccine for coronavirus except to completely trust in the blessings and provisions of God for healing?
for health, and for wholeness. Please listen to me. If there are two ways of accomplishing the same task, it is wisdom to use the more effective way. I repeat that. If there are two ways of accomplishing the same task, it is wisdom to use the more effective way.
That is, why use a bow and an arrow or a machete if you have a machine gun? I want to appeal to you. let us use our most lethal weapons, the weapons of praise, the weapons of worship, the weapons of confessions, of prayers, and thanksgiving that work so effectively in the realm of the Spirit.
For this purpose, I'm inviting you to a time of awesome worship experience by the New Dawn Choir of the Citadel Global Community Church on Saturday, August the 8th at 10 a.m. You can join us live on YouTube, Global Citadel Online, and by the grace of God, you will encounter God in a new and fresh way. Your life will never be the same again. People of God, it is when we step over into the realm of the Spirit and pray that we can bring God's will to pass. I've seen many people criticizing government, calling Buhari by name, calling this one by that.
I've seen all the kind of masquerades that have been exposed, nakedness of those exposed in both hallowed chambers and everywhere, some fainting, some rising. These things, as good as they look to you, as amusing as it may be to you, you are still dealing with the leaves and the trunks. You are not dealing with roots of trees. It is when we step into the realm of the Spirit and pray, that we can bring God's will to pass.
It is when we use our spiritual weapons, which are mighty through God, that we can, for example, turn the hearts of our governmental leaders. Proverbs chapter 21, verse 1. The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water. He turns it wherever he wishes. Those hearts are in the hand of God. We don't necessarily need to be a spiritual giant.
or a seasoned veteran of prayer to accomplish such a feat, to pray to God to touch the hands of those in authority. All you need to do is just put on your badge of authority as the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, step into the Spirit and begin to pray, provided you know that our authority is not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, that our weapons are not of the natural realm, but our spiritual firepower, full of God's ability. Amazing results are with those who in this season will hook up with God's way of running the affairs of men and of the nations of the earth. I promise you that by the grace of God, we will see positive change come into governments of this world.
This is my firm belief. And it is in that spirit that I accept the invitation to serve as inaugural chairman of the Royal Commonwealth Society for Africa. We didn't lobby for it. They located us where we are.
And the spirit of God and the grace of God Almighty will cause a nation and nations that are bound by the chain of the... Of wickedness to be set free. Why? Because the people that sat in darkness are about to see the great light. Africa.
Blood-washed Africa will be set free again. And Nigeria will not be forgotten in the plans and purposes of God. In the name of Jesus.
As I close tonight, here are my parting gifts to you. To jumpstart your prayer life again in case you have become weary. Zechariah chapter 12, family by family will have to do this.
One by one, as individuals will have to do this. Listen to the promise of God. Zechariah 12, 10 to 14. And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace and supplication.
The spirit of grace and supplication that will enable you to pray effectively. Then they will look on me, Christ Jesus, whom they pierce. Yes, they will mourn, they will repent in their heart. they will mourn for him as one who mourns for his only son and grieve for him as one who grieves for his firstborn.
In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem like the mourning that had had remorned in the plain of Megiddo. And the land shall mourn, every family by itself. Time hath come, family by family, to stand before God and repent of the blunders that have brought us here as a people and as a nation. The family of the house of David by itself.
And they are wise by themselves. The family of the house of Nathan, the prophet, by itself. And they are wise by themselves.
The family of the house of Levi, no one is excluded. The preachers, the laity, the clergy, everyone. And they are wise by themselves. The family of Shimei, the one that accused David, by itself. And they are wise by themselves.
All the families that remain, every family by itself. And they are wise by themselves. Can we do this in our strength? No. but we can in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans chapter 8, verse 26 to 39. Romans 8, 26 to 39. Likewise, the Spirit also helps us in our weakness. That's the need, the necessity for the Spirit of grace and supplication. Likewise, the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses or infirmities, for we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now he who searches the earth knows what the mind of the Spirit is.
Because he, Holy Spirit, makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. It's about time to let yourself loose and let the Holy Spirit begin to pray to you. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God and to those who are called according to his purpose. For whom he foreknew.
He also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son, that he may be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he predestined, this he also called. Whom he called, this he also justified. Whom he justified, this he also glorified.
Listen to this. What then shall we say to these things? If you can step into that prime position and pray, what shall we say to these things?
If God is for us, who can be against us? He would not spare his own son, but deliver him up. for us. How shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God's elect?
No devil can do it. He has no local standard before God. It is God who justifies.
We see who condemns. It is Christ who died and for them is also risen. Who is even at the right hand of God who also makes intercession for us. Christ is making intercession for us. The Holy Spirit is making intercession for us.
And they are making intercession before God. And we already have two-thirds majority. Because that's like two-thirds of the Godhead. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword.
As it is written, for your sake we are killed all day long. We are counted as sheep for the slaughter. Yet in all these things.
We are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life. nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers. They are all under us. No things present, no things to come, no height, no depth, nor any other crazy thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
Hallelujah. Brothers and sisters, we will by God's grace continue from here at the table of the Lord during our virtual communion service on Friday, 31st of July, 2020 at 7 p.m. When we look at these four remaining boundaries of our jurisdiction. Thank you so much for listening. God bless you and all yours richly.
Bye for now. See you on Friday. Shalom.