Know your enemy.

 Meditation John chapter 8:41-50

 Today's meditation John chapter 8:41-50

1. Jesus said to them they are doing the deeds of their father. For which they replied they are not born of fornication but God is their Father. (V41)
2. Jesus said to them if God was their father they will listen to him because he came forth from his father. He did not come by himself but was sent by his father. (V42)
3. He said they cannot understand him because they cannot hear his word. (V43)
4. Christ said that their father is the devil.  The lusts of their father they will do. He was a murderer from the beginning and he did not abide in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie he speaks it of his own for he is a liar and father of lies. (V44)
5. Christ said because he tells them the truth they do not believe in him. (V45)Christ said nobody can convince him of sin but still they do not believe in him. (V46)
6. He that is of God hears God's voice but they do not hear because they are not of God. (V47)
7. For this they said that he was a Samaritan and he has a devil (V48))
8. Jesus replied to them that he does not have a devil and he honours his father, but they dishonour him. (V49)
9. Jesus said he never seeks his own glory and it is God who seeks and judges. (V50)

LIFE APPLICATION:

Today we are going to meditate on the topic
KNOW YOUR ENEMY.

The WORD of GOD says,

 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Ephesians:6:12

Dear Child of God, I
Want you to realise today that there is a unseen world around us that always wage a war against our members.

It is not the neighbour or the boss whom we see, our enemy. But there is something more deeper... there are unseen principalities, powers, spiritual wickedness that wrestle with us.... they rub on our bodies and our souls.

This is the kingdom of darkness and they have a king... the Devil. This is what CHRIST refers in V44,

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
John:8:44

Once we have accepted Christ as our Lord and our God we are transformed into a marvellous new life and the enemy has lost his authority over our us.

But still, as long as we are in the flesh... we will have to fight him as the children of God. So it will be better for us to KNOW The ENEMY as Paul said,

I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
1 Corinthians:9:26

Let us see some attributes of the Devil in our meditation today:

A. He works in the children of disobedience:

The Prince of air is the spirit that works in children of disobedience.

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Ephesians:2:2

B. The Devil is the Father of lusts. (V44)

Devil operates in lust. God operates in love.
Let me explain a little on lust and love.

* the word of God says,

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1 John:2:16

Lust is of the eyes and of the flesh. It uses the eye gates. But Love is divine and is of God, poured into our spirits.

Let us see some biblical examples for lust:

1. Devil lusted the throne of God.

By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches:
Ezekiel:28:5

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God;
Ezekiel:28:6

2. The Devil made Eve to lust after the forbidden fruit.

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Genesis:3:6

3. Lust makes us want things at whatever cost even if it is forbidden, even it is illegal and even if it mean to murder someone.

But Love is patient and submits to God's will and time.

And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead.
1 Kings:21:15

Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
2 Samuel:12:9

There are many more examples of how the devil operates in lust. Dear Child of God! Commit yourself to walk according to the spirit and you will not fulfil the lusts of the flesh.

I would suggest to keep every one of our wants and wishes to be kept at the altar. If it burns and gone forever it is lust...
 But it stays with you it is love.... painful but safe.

C. The Devil is a liar and a FATHER of lies: (V44)

Here the enemy works through our ear gates. He speaks lies in our ears till the truth of CHRIST Is obscured in our hearts.

One of his mighty weapon is slander. He makes people slander against us and he makes us slander against others too.

For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.
Psalm:31:13

He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.
Proverbs:10:18

And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land,
Numbers:14:36

2. He condemns:
It can be people condemning us or we condemn ourselves. CONDEMNATION and ACCUSATIONS are not of God.

And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
Revelation:12:10

With lies he makes the heart of the righteous sad:

Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life:
Ezekiel:13:22

With lies he can put fear in our hearts; with lies, he can disturb our peace.; with lies, he can bring enmity among brethren...

Dear Child of God! Are you a victim of lies of the enemy ? Recognise and fight it with truth and the truth will set you free.

Identify and cast down every imagination that are sowed in you by the enemy that you will not be an easy target for the enemy.

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2 Corinthians:10:5

Let us learn to bring every thought of ours under captivity to the obedience of CHRIST and we will walk over the enemy in this area too.

D. The other important character of the Devil is that He is a Murderer. 
He kills and destroys.

He can carry out this mission in the form of diseases, or in the form of witchcraft or in the form of hatred or any other.

 We thank God for the blood of Christ that has been shed as an atonement.

This blood of Christ protects us from such viles of the enemy.

For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.
Exodus:12:23

There is a secret and a quiet place where we can hide into.
That is the shadow of the almighty even his sanctuary.

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalm:91:1

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Psalm:91:4

This is the place the eyes of the enemy can never find us.

Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.
Job:28:21

Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.
Job:28:22

God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.
Job:28:23

The Lord himself shall keep us from all evil. He will deliver our souls... He himself will keep us safe from the snares of the enemy.


The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
Psalm:121:7

Let the Lord's prayer be ours today.... that we will be safe each day...

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Matthew:6:13

May God bless you!

The Truth will set you free

Meditation John 8:31-40

1. Jesus said to those who believed in him that if we continue believing in the word of God then we are his disciples. (V31)
2. Christ said when we know the truth will make us free. (V32)
3. For this, the Jews said they were the seed of Abraham and they were not under bondage to any man. They asked him why they are telling them to become free. (V33)
4. Jesus said to them that whoever commits a sin they are servants of sin. (V34)
5. The servant cannot stay in the house forever but the son can. (V35)
6. Hence if the son shall make us free we are indeed free. (V36)
7. Jesus told the Jews that though they were of Abraham's seed, still they seek to kill Christ because his word has no place in them. (V37)
8. Jesus said he does things of his father but they are doing things of their father. (V38)
9. For this they said Abraham was their father. For this Christ said they will do the works of Abraham if they were his children. ( v39)
10. Christ told them then why do they seek to kill him who speak to them the words of God when Abraham never did so. (V40)

 LIFE APPLICATION 1:
FREEDOM IN CHRIST:
Today's meditation help us to realise how we are bound and how we are set free through the truth. (V34)

SIN and it's consequences:

Dear Child of God! Sin is a dangerous disease than cancer. It can make us its servant. It can get us bound... and make us to end up in eternal damnation. Do not play with sin. Sin has the potential to get you into a deep bondage.
SIN brings curse and curse brings death.

A. Sin does not give us rest. Our bones become restless because of sin.

There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.
Psalm:38:3

B. If we sin against God we shall die.

Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling-block before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Ezekiel:3:20

C. We are destroying our own soul when we sin.

But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.
Proverbs:6:32

Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not.
Proverbs:29:24

D. Sin is alluring; but at last it bites like a serpent.

Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
Proverbs:23:31

At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
Proverbs:23:32

E. One sin can lead to many sins and end us up in a mess.

Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
Proverbs:23:33

Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.
Proverbs:23:34

F. Sin is addictive. It will make you want it more till you are destroyed completely. 

They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.
Proverbs:23:35

G. Sin operates in darkness:

Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
Proverbs:9:17

But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.
Proverbs:9:18

The WORD of GOD says the man who sins is a slave to sin. The wages of sin is death. But Christ came to give us life and life in abundance.


For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans:6:23

The redemption work of Christ:

Dear Child of God! How much ever your life is a mess. Christ came to set the captives free.

He came down to heaven only to heal your broken heart and heal your aching wounds. He is concerned of you to build you up again.

The spirit of God filled Christ without measure that we that are captives and are bound are set free.

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
Isaiah:61:1

Christ has manifested that he can take away all our sins.
And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
1 John:3:5

This is what CHRIST said whom the son sets free they are free indeed. If we know the truth the truth will set us free.

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
John:8:36

LIFE APPLICATION: 2
BECOMING DISCIPLES of GOD:

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
John:8:31

Here below are some marks and traits of true disciples of God.

A. If we continue in the word of God we are the disciples of God.

If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
John:8:31

B. We are disciples of CHRIST when we love one another.

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
John:13:35

C. We become disciples of CHRIST when we give more fruits for his glory.

Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
John:15:8

D. How CHRIST is so will be his disciples.

It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
Matthew:10:25

E. Disciples carry their cross to follow Christ.

And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Luke:14:27

Shortly, disciple is a person who sits at the feet of his master each day to learn from him and to follow him wherever he goes.

So once we are out of our sins through the power of the cross, God invites us to walk in the freedom as being disciples of Christ, taking his nature on us.


So this is how the series goes.

1. Allow the spirit of God to convict you of your sins.

2. Repent and ask the blood of Christ to cleanse you.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1 John:1:7

3. Believe and be immersion baptised as a symbol of your repentance and regeneration.

And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
Luke:3:3

4. Be a part of a spirit-filled church which will nourish and help you sustain this new freedom you have found in Christ.

5. Continue in his word as CHRIST said being his disciple with a renewed mind.

And 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.
Romans:12:2

May the good Lord lead you through these stages as you work up the salvation of your souls.
Amen.

Breaking strongholds of GUILT: part 2: Meditation john 3: 9- 21

Condemnation and guilt are major strongholds gripping the minds of people today...some people are pushed even to end their lives because  of GUILT.

Let me give you an  example from the Bible. Let us look into the series of events that happened in the life of Judas.

1. Judas gives place to Satan in his heart:
Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,
John:12:4

Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
John:12:5

This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
John:12:6

2. Satan enters Judas to betray Jesus:

Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.
Luke:22:3

3. Judas betrays Jesus:
And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.
Luke:22:47

4. When he saw Jesus was condemned he repents and tries to help Jesus if he can release him.

Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
Matthew:27:3

5. Judas hangs himself out of GUILT.
And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
Matthew:27:5

Guilt is painful; guilt kills us;  It can be anything of our past, that is throwing a dark shadow of Guilt on our future.
 Today Is the day to break that stronghold from your life.

Satan tempts us to sin- sins condemns under the light of the Law- condemnation breeds guilt - guilt brings shame-
Shame brings destruction.

All of these work in darkness. Shame does not allow us to address this issue in the  light of the gospel.

We are unable to talk out the real problem and cry within ourselves, making issues worse.

Now let us see a godly example from the word, how Peter overcame guilt as compared to Judas.

1. Jesus prophesies about Peter denying him.

Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.
Matthew:26:35

Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
Matthew:26:34

2. Peter denies Jesus thrice.
Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
Matthew:26:74

3. Peter cries and repented.

And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
Matthew:26:75

4. But when Christ rose up on the third day he was the first to run to the sepulchre.

Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
John:20:3

5. God restores the relationship again.
He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
John:21:17

Do you love Jesus? Come back to him as Peter did.

Christ did not come to condemn us but to save us. V17.

If we can believe this we are  no longer condemned as it is written,
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans:8:1

Praise be to God... we are no longer under the ministry of Condemnation, ie, the Law. But we are set free from its bonds.

For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
2 Corinthians:3:9

Sin and guilt have been already condemned by what CHRIST did on the cross in the flesh. Now we are free to worship him.

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Romans:8:3

Let guilt not keep keep you away from the presence of God. Today is the day to reconcile with God and bring it to light.

1. JESUS LOVES YOU NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE.
2. JESUS LOVES YOU THE WAY YOU ARE.
3. JESUS LOVES YOU HOW MUCH EVER DIRTY YOU ARE.
4. JESUS LOVES YOU EVEN IF YOU ARE UNDER DEEP ADDICTIONS.
5. JESUS LOVES YOU WHATEVER BE YOUR PAST; HE WANTS TO GIVE YOU A BRAND NEW  FUTURE.
6. YOU DO NOT NEED TO ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING TO WIN THE LOVE OF GOD

 Simply to put,
YOU HAVE HOPE IN Jesus.
Also, you do not need to read 20 chapters of the Bible or walk a 1000 miles to win God's heart.

He loves you and he is willing to free you today.

STEPS TO FOLLOW FOR FREEDOM FROM GUILT, SHAME AND CONDEMNATION:
1. Honestly Name it: address and acknowledge your hidden emotions, feelings and problems before God. So that it is brought into light.
2. Deny the Lies the Devil puts in your heart, that you are not accepted.
3. Believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that you can come back to Jesus and he will break these strongholds.
4. Now, pray this prayer with me,

Dear Father,
I believe in my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus has carried my guilt and shame at the cross in the flesh and I have PEACE with you through JESUS CHRIST.  I give you my life and I invite you into my heart to break every strongholds ( name it if you would want to) of GUILT and shame in my life. Thank you for loving me. In Jesus mighty name.  Amen.

Please send prayer requests to: christloveinus@gmail.com and we will pray for you. God bless you all.