Resonance

Category: the Kingdom

  • Suffering as Evidence of God’s Righteous Judgment: Being Counted Worthy of His Kingdom

    Suffering as Evidence of God’s Righteous Judgment: Being Counted Worthy of His Kingdom

    Being counted worthy according to God’s judgement is as a result of God’s Mercy, walking by His Truth and living according to His Righteousness. Mercy, Truth, Righteousness and Justice. Judgement is Justice. In this context, God’s Grace is a product of His Mercy. To be found worthy is not Grace + works, yet if there’s no proof of works according to the Grace given, you’ll be disqualified. To be qualified means to be found worthy to receive a certain honour. God has already laid a judgement on how to be worthy in His Kingdom.

    Christ’s finished works ensures God’s work in you. Your participation is to work out what has been worked in you. This is why judgement is according to works, not Grace. God is interested in fruits, not seeds. Thus, there’s the need to walk worthy of the Kingdom. It is not without suffering. Suffering only exists within the context of this age because of the contention between good and evil on the external, and the flesh and the Spirit in the internal. Let’s delve in!

    Walking Worthy to be Counted Worthy

    I know this teaching is not popular but stay with me and endure this hard teaching. In Acts 5:41, the apostles rejoiced because God counted them worthy to suffer shame for His Name. We have been called to glory but the qualification (the judgement of being counted worthy) comes after faithfully suffering. This is clearly written in Scriptures in Romans 8:17: “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in His Glory.” Christ qualifies us to be worthy as children but our participation in His suffering determines whether we become co-heirs with Him in order to share in His glory.


    “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his Will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, [10] so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God“, Colossians 1:9-10 says.

    Ephesians 4:1-3 NKJV
    I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

    I Thessalonians 2:10-12 NKJV
    You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

    Don’t get it twisted. You are called into the Kingdom alright but you ought to walk worthy of your calling, as Ephesians 4:1 says. The calling is by Mercy and Grace. God’s judgement of our worthiness is by His Righteousness and Justice. This is the Truth. Jesus made you accepted so you live a life that is acceptable. Without Jesus, you can never be worthy. However, if our lives do not reflect the life of God Christ gave us, then we did not walk worthy of the calling. There is a manner of life worthy of saints.

    Romans 16:1-2 NKJV
    I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.

    Philippians 1:27 NKJV
    Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel

    III John 1:5-8 NKJV
    [5] Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, [6] who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward manner worthy of God, you will do well, [7] because they went forth for His name’s sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles. [8] We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth.

    Suffering for Righteousness’ Sake

    There is blessing in suffering for Christ. Not all suffering is a blessing, of course. Not every suffering is a curse either. There’s a blessing in enduring temptation and overcoming them. Temptation is the platform for the internal contention between the flesh and the Spirit. Our bodies are in a fallen state and more susceptible to the things of this world. The civilization of this self-government is what is called flesh. God did not create our bodies to govern itself by its dictates and appetites.

    That notwithstanding, God’s way called Righteousness is inherent in our born-again spirit. Therefore, we will continually suffer the contention between our flesh (our bodies wanting to govern itself) and the Spirit (who is one with our spirit). Whenever we win this battle by walking in the Spirit, we are approved and counted worthy to receive a certain reward.

    James 1:12 NKJV
    Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

    Apart from the internal suffering, there’s external suffering for Righteousness’ sake. “Others may, you cannot“. “We are allowed to do anything,” so they say. That is true, but not everything is good. “We are allowed to do anything”—but not everything is helpful. That is 1 Corinthians 10:23. There will certainly be external persecution and pressure to conform to the dictates of this world. God’s way won’t be popular. It will be seen as radical and judged as insane. However, when you have been approved – when you have been counted worthy and faithful – you will receive the crown of life.

    I Corinthians 1:27-29 NKJV
    [27] But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; [28] and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, [29] that no flesh should glory in His presence.

    Be ready and willing to choose the way of the Lord, and utterly rejoice for being counted worthy to suffer for the sake of righteousness. It is a blessing. Matthew 5:11-12 says “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

    The Fellowship of His Sufferings

    Jesus suffered too. Jesus is our Template and there are certain things He did that we must by all means do. One of them is suffering for Righteousness’ sake. Can we fulfill all our destiny without having to suffer? Well, that’s what Jesus’ suffering in the garden of Gethsemane was all about. God the Father confirmed that His Will includes the suffering and that there’s no other way around it. We are called partake of this same suffering, so that we can partake in the Glory. No Cross, no Throne.

    “Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.” 1 Peter 4:1-2 said it beautifully. One of the reasons why Jesus lived a sinless life is because He suffered in the flesh. If we are willing to suffer in the flesh, we shall cease from sin. The squirming of the flesh whenever you say no to its lustful pleasures is suffering. But that’s not the only kind of suffering.

    Hebrews 12:3-4 says “consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.” Jesus suffered unto death, and so has many saints of old. The suffering as a result of the contention between the flesh and the Spirit cannot be compared to choosing God over your own life. If He died for us, we ought to be willing to live for Him. If He lives for us, we ought to be willing to die for Him.

    There’s a mindset and heart posture we ought to have in order to partake in the fellowship of His sufferings. 1 Peter 4:1 tells us about the mindset and 1 Peter 3:16 tells us about the heart posture. The heart posture is to reverse Christ in our hearts. That means fear God in your heart. The heart posture is also to keep the hope of Glory in your heart with meekness and fear. The fear of God will keep you from sin and keep your hope alive. It will also keep you from the pressure of evil men and all appearances of evil. That is what kept Joseph from committing such great wickedness against God and his master.

    There’s Grace for His Disgrace

    You may suffer slander, defamation, false accusations, character assassinations etc just like Daniel. However, your life of holiness and integrity will keep your conscience clean. What I mean by that is: when you begin to suffer, you’ll not feel guilty and attribute it to God’s judgement on your wrongdoings. You’ll rather rejoice that God has counted you worthy to suffer so that you’ll be worthy to be promoted from glory to glory. There’s some sufferings that is God’s Will. You may not understand. You may not agree. Regardless, that is God’s righteous judgement in this age; that His saints suffer for Righteousness’ sake, just as Christ did. This is called the perseverance of the saints, the fellowship of His sufferings.


    “It is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil”, 1 Peter 3:17 says. The Will of God includes suffering for doing good. It doesn’t always mean or include suffering but it always means doing what is good in God’s sight. Therefore, if doing this good will cause you to suffer, that suffering cannot be separated from God’s Will. God’s Will includes that suffering. It is important that teachings like these are re-emphasized so that those who suffer for doing good do not lose their hope. It has become more easier than ever to choose the compromised sinful way out and call it a testimony. We ought to know for sure that suffering is part of the journey.

    Jesus suffered in God’s Will. I Peter 3:18 says ” for Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit”. Christ’s suffering resulted in 3 major things mentioned here;

    just for the unjust → divine exchange / substitution

    bring us to God → reconciliation

    put to death in flesh, made alive by the Spirit → death & resurrection

    Thus, you clearly see that Christ could not have completed His mission if He didn’t suffer. The same goes for you. This is the heart posture and mindset I want you to have. If you don’t partake in Christ’s sufferings, your fellowship is incomplete. That means you don’t know Him. It is in suffering that we are conformed to His death, that we may attain resurrection. If we don’t mortify the flesh, we cannot be made alive in the Spirit. If this suffering means dying for the sake of the Gospel, then so be it. Now, are you ready to suffer for His Name sake?

  • Righteousness: the Operating System of God’s Kingdom

    Righteousness and justice are the foundation of God’s throne. That means God rules in righteousness. That also means what is righteous is what is pleasing and acceptable in the sight of God. Thus, righteousness is right standing with God. We cannot stand before God if we are not righteous. We cannot also represent God if we are not righteous. God alone is right, good and true. He is the only determiner, definer and demonstrator of what is right. Something is only right because God makes it so. Therefore, we cannot seek the Kingdom of God without seeking His Righteousness. His Righteousness is His Way of being and doing right. That means He determines how we become righteous and what deeds are righteous.

    The sin of Adam and Eve is that they ate from the tree of death after listening to the voice of the devil. Thus, they gained the knowledge of good and evil. In other words, they now determined what was good and evil without God. We cannot be righteous outside of God. Ask atheists; the foundation of good and evil collapses when God is taken out of the equation. Without the presence of God, we cannot even differentiate between good and evil anymore. Nothing is inherently right without God. If God says go and you stay, you have faulted. He is the Judge of All, and He judges what is right rightly because He alone has the right to determine what is right.

    The Nature of Righteousness

    Righteousness is first of all a nature. You don’t do to become. You become, then you do. You can never do righteous deeds if you are not righteous. Righteousness is what is pleasing in the sight of God. That means God alone gets to determine what is good and what is evil. However, we were not able to live fully according to His Law. Therefore, we couldn’t stand before Him blameless. The Law was only to show us that we will never achieve righteousness by what we do. Jesus became our substitute in this regard. He is the Righteousness of God. Therefore, if we believe in Him and accept His Life, which is a righteous life, we gain access to the presence of God. By this same access, we are able to live the life of righteousness God has fashioned for us.

    This is why Righteousness comes first in the order; Righteousness, Peace, Joy in the Holy Ghost. Righteousness is when we accept the Lordship of God. This means we give Him the full right to rule our lives and be the one to determine how we live. You cannot claim to be in the Kingdom if you are living according to your own understanding. We ought to seek first His Kingdom and Righteousness. Righteousness is the operating system of the Kingdom of God. It is His government and constitution. The nature of righteousness then flows into our words, works and ways.

    Words, Works & Ways

    Your input determines your output, in computer language. You cannot say you are righteous when you do not bear any fruits of righteousness. Yes, righteous is who you are. Righteousness will naturally flow into what you do. What you do cannot make you righteous but you being righteous will flow into what you do. It’s that simple! Feeding a child does not make you a mother but a mother feeds her child. Being a mother is who you are and it will naturally flow into what you do. Therefore, you are making excuses when we don’t see your righteous works. The very first “output” we will see is your words. The Righteousness of God is the Word of God. If you have the Righteousness of God, you will speak the words of God.

    There are works God has predestined for us to walk in. These works are righteous, for they please the LORD. This is God’s way of doing right. Because we have the Spirit of God within us, we are able to perform the Kingdom duties given unto us. Wherever the Kingdom of God is, the Righteousness of God is established there. Our ways refer to how we do things as our works refer to what we do. How we do things is as important as what we do. The Righteousness of God makes sure that we don’t try to use evil to achieve good. Don’t try to help God by giving birth to Ishmael. God has His Way of doing things, and righteousness demands that we follow that particular way.

  • Awake, Arise, Ascend, O Deborah: A Clarion Call

    Last week, we talked about the warfare strategy God revealed through the life of Deborah. We talked about the fact that there are two main mistakes we can make when it comes to doing exploits; zeal without knowledge or knowledge without zeal. You can be over-zealous and run ahead of God to “help” what He said to come to pass. You can also be told exactly what to do by God but fear stepping out. Last week focused on the knowledge aspect. This is about the zeal aspect.

    To be honest on my part, I thought that was all to the Deborah strategy. Now, I realise many precepts, protocols and processes were not captured. If we are going to do exploits, we ought to be explosive. Just like we did with David’s and Gideon’s, pick up your hardcopy Bible, open to Judges 5 and follow me on this one.

    Awake

    God announces our victory first before we fight to establish it. That means if we run ahead of God to fight in a battle He has not announced victory, we will suffer casualties. The Joshua strategy will reveal a lot concerning this principle. To awake is to rise from sleep, slumber and shackles. The awakening begins when we cry out to God. See, the enemy is not strong. We are simply asleep. Once we are awake, the enemy will have no chance. It is while men slept that the enemy came to sow tares among the wheat. Watchmen, awake. Awake, awake, Deborah. Awake, Barak. This is a wake up call.

    In fact, it is the power of death that keeps people asleep. When a man is blind and asleep, even if he’s a strong man, you can enter his house and bind him. Remember Samson. To be awake is to be quickened. It is to stop fooling. Like the prodigal son, it is to come back to your senses. If you sleep all your life, life will pass you by. Your situation will never change, regardless of what God has spoken over your life, until you awake. If you are living in sin, you’re asleep. Wake up! If you’re living a desecrated life, the enemy still has power over you. Awake!

    Arise

    God must arise first before we can arise. In Judges 5:4-5 God arose. In verse 6-7, Deborah arose. Seven times in the book of Psalms, David prayed for God to arise. This is exactly why we discussed the knowledge aspect last week. Don’t go ahead of God. Sometimes, the iniquities of the Amorites are not yet complete. God does miracles, not magic. The path to recovery is a process even if some aspects of recovery are instantaneous. Judgement will be rendered at a set time and preparation needs to take place. But why? Because God uproots to plant. Unless the planting follows the uprooting, the uprooting creates a bigger hole for the enemy to fill. It’s like casting a demon out of a person and not filling them with the Spirit. If you are going to tear down demonic priesthood, you ought to be trained to sustain a divine priesthood.

    Process does not exist because God is slow. It exists because of us. Arising is when God trains us to become who He wants us to be. Sometimes, God leaves certain adversaries and obstacles in our way because although it isn’t His Will, He can use it to achieve His purpose in our lives. It may take a second to awake but arising takes time. It takes seconds for light to shine in darkness when the light is switched on, no matter how long there was darkness. However, it takes time for God to enlighten our darkness. By being in darkness for that long, we have learnt the ways of the darkness and absorbed darkness into us. Light is what we use to win battles against darkness. We cannot conquer darkness with darkness.

    What happens if we don’t arise? Judges 4:8 tells us that new gods will arise because we didn’t take our rightful place (Deuteronomy 32:17). Nowhere is left unfilled. There is no neutral ground. There’s always a rising. If we don’t arise, it means the enemy will arise. Until we arise, Christ will not shine His light on us. We rise to shine. It means the time has come. It means we ought to gird our loins. Like the angel told Peter when he was freeing from prison, gird your loins after you arise. To arise is to be revived and restored like in the days of Hosea. To arise is a call to battle. To arise is to conquer spiritual timidity with Spirit of Love, Power and Sound Mind. The enemy will fight back. However, those who go through this process will be equipped enough not to give up or give in.

    Arising is so important to me because this is where the real warfare is. If you can arise, you will ascend. Once you ascend, it is game over for the enemy. Thus, this is part he will fight the hardest; while you are still unsure about who you are and the manner of Spirit you carry. This is the part many give up and question God’s attitude because of so much warfare. The enemy seems to know something God has hidden from you for now. Only willing people keep winning (verse 2,9). You need to be spiritually violent. The violent takes it by force. Our destinies are interconnected. Verse 13 to 15 makes us understand that when we arise, we cause others to arise also. When we fight, they encourage them to fight too. When we fight, angels fight on our behalf (verse 20). The victory is not meant to be mine alone. It is ours. However, anyone who doesn’t fight will not be part of the victory (verse 16-17).

    Winning the Test of Contradiction

    Anytime God speaks and the opposite of what He said is the situation, it means there is a contention. The enemy barely gives up anything without a fight. Verse 19 makes us know that. As we discussed in the jurisdiction of the devil, temptation is allowed but occupation is not. Let’s not confuse the two. Sometimes, we become too amazed when battles arise. If there is no battle, how do you get the victory? If you are not tempted, what is the proof of your obedience? If you are not tested, what justifies your ascension?

    In the test of contradiction, it will look as though the enemy has the upper hand, the advantage. It will look like they are winning but they will suddenly fall. Of course, the enemy sealed legality in the area you are fighting him. He won’t give up until he loses. His pride makes him think he can still win. You wear him out by encouraging yourself in the LORD (verse 21). More people lose to the enemy by giving up than by fighting. In fact, more of his devices are meant for that. Giving up is the easiest thing to do. However, remember that God is on your side. Remember that what you are really doing is fighting for the establishment of the Kingdom in that area. Fight from victory because God announced your victory before the fight began.

    Ascend

    Ascension only belongs to those who won their battles. When the set time for your coronation comes, you will now understand why God made you spend so much time at the arising stage. To ascend is to be set upon your high places. To ascend is to take your rightful place. The high places were formally occupied by the enemy as they left you bound in sleep and blindness. Once you awake via an encounter like Gideon and via a revelation/enlightenment/understanding, God trains you to break in and break through. You will arise to tread the enemy on their high places, and then be manifestedly coronated to take dominion. You were born for this all along. Jesus conquered so we can also conquer. His finished work is so we can also finish.

    Awake and sing your testimonies to enable others to arise, arise and go to the city gates where you contend for your rightful authority, take captivity captive and ascend. Record your testimonies so others can recite them to awake. Your testimony of how you arose will cause many to awake so they can arise because all eyes will see that you have ascended.

    In all, God is working on us, in us and with us to establish His Kingdom where righteousness, joy and peace will reign for as long as we live.

    God fights for us through us with us. We rise in strength to seal our victories so that peace reigns when the Kingdom is established.

  • Deborah Strategy: Warfare Strategies of the Kingdom of God

    I was on my knees in prayer when I heard “it is time to deploy the Deborah Strategy”. I didn’t know what the Deborah Strategy was, although I had it written down at the beginning of the year. Now that I know, I know exactly why I had to be told that (that’s exactly what the Deborah Strategy is about). Let’s delve in so you understand what I mean.

    The Deborah Strategy is about doing exploits. When it comes to doing exploits, there are two main mistakes we can make; zeal without knowledge or knowledge without zeal. You can be over-zealous and run ahead of God to “help” what He said to come to pass. You can also be told exactly what to do by God but fear stepping out. This is why what we are about to discuss is very strategic in warfare.

    If you have been given a Deborah anointing or a Deborah ministry, never get ahead of God. You will suffer serious legalities. Judges 4:2 will tell you clearly that it was God who handed the people of Israel over to the enemy. In fact, the word used was “sold”; the same word used when Esau sold his birthright; the same word used when Joseph was sold by his brothers. It was a legal transaction. The enemy was rightfully ruling. In the jurisdiction of the devil, we understood that the devil doesn’t make any illegal transactions. He immediately secures legality when there’s a handing over. In fact, this was the third time the Book of Judges said God sold them because of their sins.

    The first thing to do when the enemy has the upper hand is to cry out to God for mercy. God will answer that cry and will start the process of redemption and restoration. This strategy can be used when there is an evil leader over a territory. Don’t wage warfare without knowing first the legalities involved. Whether you get to know all or not, obtain God’s Mercy. The Mercy of God is the executive order that trumps all transactions, legal or illegal. If you realise that your family some time back made a covenant with a goddess, don’t attack first. It was a legal transaction. You will suffer backlash. Secure the Mercy of God.

    Once the Mercy of God has been secured, tarry until God downloads the strategy to you. During that time, God will be incubating you to be the main priest of your family or territory or nation. If you think it’s just a matter of uprooting the enemy and that’s all, you’ll realise it’s not like that. God uproots to plant. Therefore, He prepares the tree in the seed He will plant before He even uproots. This is why going ahead of God must fail. You will create more ground for the enemy to leverage upon. That’s basically the Ishmael strategy of the kingdom of darkness.

    You should know that Deborah was a judge for a while until the time came when God gave her the strategy to conquer the enemy. You may be Barak complaining about why a certain problem is still persisting until you realise God has specifically chosen you as the solution. See, God is intentional. The strategy is location-specific (Mount Tabor), people-specific (10,000 men of the sons of Naphtali and Zebulun) and has certain specifications to be noted. This is not a strategy if it is vague. If the instructions are still vague to you, don’t take action until you have gained clarity. God is not the author of confusion. His instructions are so clear and specific that you will know when you begin to devise your own style to obey. The instructions may not look time-bound but it mostly is. There is a set time allocated to the fulfilment of it.

    Do you understand what that means? “It is time to deploy the Deborah Strategy”. God can give you clear instructions but until He says start, don’t start. Yes, He told you that you will go to secondary schools and impact the lives of young females. The timing is so important that going ahead or later can cause serious repercussions. Barak was told and it was an instruction to act upon immediately. Deborah told him uprightly, “this is the day”. The time had come. Remember that it is a partnership between you and God. With Him, all things are possible. Doing anything without His consultation while hoping that He supports it is very similar to believing in luck. He has already preplanned everything so kindly work with His timing.

    I know you want to heal all the sick people in the hospital in one day and go to the cemetery and cause all of them to come back to life. Such zeal! Clap for yourself. Before you go and act like a superhero and hope God backs you up, why don’t you wait for God to send you? Even Jesus never stepped into a scene without the guidance of the Holy Spirit. He went to the pool of Bethesda, healed only one man out of so many, and left. You can’t step into a village and burn their altars and tear down all their shrines when you didn’t hear God. It doesn’t work like that. Surely, you don’t have more zeal than God to do the exploits He prepared beforehand for you to do. Work with Him.

    And now you understand.

    The Deborah Strategy is not a random outburst of power. It is a legal, prophetic, and Spirit-led deployment of God’s will in territories where the enemy has gained ground. The urgency of exploits must always be rooted in the order of heaven. In no particular order, let me summarize it for your clarity:
    – Secure Mercy first
    – Wait for the God-given strategy for the mission
    – Work in partnership with God
    – Know and act at the revealed set time
    – Act in obedience, not mere zeal
    – Understand your priestly role.

    You know your God. You have waxed strong. It is time for exploits. Heaven has received the cries of the saints, Heaven has seized the legal ground of the enemy. Heaven has chosen the vessel, and Heaven has released the strategy. Now, wait for the “This is the day” signal. Then move. Boldly. In sync with God.

  • The Timothy Strategy: Warfare Strategies of the Kingdom of God

    “This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, [19] having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck” I Timothy 1:18-19 NKJV

    The Timothy Strategy will open our eyes to realise that prophecies are used to wage war. It will also make us realise that, in the case of Timothy, his war against false doctrine in Ephesus was a strategic warfare. As discussed, strategies have their place in any form of warfare. Even in physical battles, it is not mere might or numbers that win the war. To think there’s no form or use of strategy in our Kingdom is a lie we must totally throw away. Strategies are not formulae; they are wise instructions. They are not meant to be analysed but obeyed. They are not sourced from human intellect but from the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Based on the inspired Word of God, what we see are underlying principles, postures, precepts and patterns that the LORD is communicating by the revelation of His Word. Let’s delve in!

    The Timothy Strategy

    Paul basically wrote this first letter to Timothy for him to stay in Ephesus and fight against false doctrine. It gives us a Biblical template on how to fight false doctrine in a territory. There were personal postures for Timothy and corporate conducts the true church had to take to win this warfare. Just like you, Timothy had received a prophecy that he will cause the grand return of Ephesus to Apostolic Christianity. Here he was, listening to his spiritual father and receiving apostolic instructions to restore while maintaining his stance in Christ.

    In order to understand how prophecies come to pass, we need to understand the Laws of Change, very similar to the Laws of Motion God revealed to Sir Isaac Newton. Some things will change no matter what you do. Others won’t change unless you do something. There are certain prophecies where God is simply updating you beforehand; there’s absolutely nothing anyone can do about it to prevent it from coming to pass, although it still takes the interplay of men to fulfill it. Usually, we can easily over-emphasize the Sovereignty of God to the detriment of our own responsibility. What God has said will surely come to pass, yes, but it can pass you by and be fulfilled years after you’re dead and gone.

    Israel will still enter the Promise Land. The question is, will you die in the wilderness because you refused to participate or you’ll enter into God’s Rest? There’s nothing automatic in the realms of the spirit. Things don’t just happen. Persons make them happen. Waiting on God is not letting time pass by. If you do that, time will surely pass you by. Always have the mindset to do something, whether things will change no matter I do or the change is dependent on what I do. I have discovered that praying and studying the Word of God is part of the solution to every problem in the world. However, we ought to realise it’s not every situation that God will step in to do it for us sovereignly. It’s often a partnership. The prayer and Bible study will simply be an avenue by which God will reveal what we ought to do.

    Yes, God can do all things. Yes, in this particular situation He rather chose to give you strategies so you play your role accurately. The prayer and fasting gave you a revelation for the strategies, yes. Don’t be mad! That’s how God trains us. The prophecy is not the end. It’s rather the beginning of the warfare. So what did the prophecy do, then? It’s a decree, aiding your exploits. It’s a permit, legalizing your escapades in that area. Surely, you don’t expect God to do what you can do. God has never brushed anyone’s teeth for them. God does the hard part and leaves us with the easy part – which He will even enable you to do, by the way – so we can participate in His story.

    You Got Work to Do

    In the book of Timothy, there were clear charges on doctrines in the first chapter, instructions for worship in the 2nd chapter, instructions for appointing leaders in the 3rd chapter, apostolic instructions for personal conduct in the 4th, the 5th being generally about relationship care within the body of Christ and the last chapter concerns certain false teachings and strategic resolves to restore order and prevent falling into those traps. See, if there was absolutely nothing we had to do, the New Testament would have ended with the Gospels. Don’t let anyone lie to you. Christ has done it all! Yes. So we can also do ours through Him and for Him.

    What you become is more important to God than what you do. God is more eager to see His Word concerning you coming to pass than you are. Thus, it’s not just mere strategies “to do”. The many hours you spent in the secret place tarrying was not because God couldn’t hear or He was contemplating whether He should do it or not. No! It was for your own benefit. You were being transformed to conform to His Image. It is those who live in the fullness of the stature of Christ that walk in the fullness of the good works predestined for them.

    The volume of your books has been written. Graces have been given. The outcome of your story is determined by your willingness to fully yield to the fulfillment of God’s will for your life during your time on earth. It’s not just a privilege. It’s a responsibility. You will be judged at the end of the day; what you did vis-a-vis what you were predestined to do. There’s prophecies over your head. Jesus gave us a template with how He lived His life. He fulfilled over 350 prophecies within His lifetime with accurate precision. He wasn’t lazying around. He said “As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. The night cometh, when no man can work”. You are not going to be alive forever. Very soon, your chapter will close and you’re going to give an account of your life and all that was entrusted to you. O, there is work to do.

    Faith & A Good Conscience

    Fulfilling destiny is warfare. Having a baby is warfare. Raising a baby is warfare. Leading people is warfare. Taking action is warfare. It takes greater spiritual warfare to walk in victory with Christ than to live in sin and defeat. Yes! Those who paint a fairytale Christianity where everything is sweet and smooth because you have now surrendered to Christ have not read the Bible. “We must through many tribulations enter into the Kingdom”. How do you work with God to fulfill the prophecies of God over your life? In order to battle false doctrines specifically, you will need faith and a good conscience. Four times, it was mentioned together in this particular letter. Faith here means “leaning completely on God with absolute trust and confidence in His guidance” (AMP version).

    A good conscience is necessary for doctrine. If you have been fed the right doctrines for long, your conscience will prompt you when you hear a fable or false doctrine. All the same, you will need these in your specific warfare with your prophecies. If you lack a good conscience, you will begin to “help” God. You will adopt all sorts of ways and measures to skip His process because you feel time is running out. It takes faith to walk with God, and a good conscience to not walk away. Many prophecies weren’t fulfilled in people’s lives because they simply gave up before the set time. Remember, what God wants to do will still be done. His Words never return to Him void. Jesus will come and die for us even if Mary said no. If He has chosen you to do His good measure, pick up His prophecies on your life and wage a good warfare like a good soldier to see it come to pass.

  • Warfare Strategies of the Kingdom of God III

    Early this year in February and March, we discussed the Warfare Strategies of the Kingdom of God. We started with how God trained David the singer/shepherd boy to David the king warrior. We also explored Nehemiah’s strategy of a tool in one hand and a weapon in the other, Jehoshaphat’s strategy of leading the army with priests who gave praise as well as the Esther’s strategy of eradicating Haman, the decree against the Jews and promoting Mordecai. How God encountered Gideon and trained him was also extensively discussed (although God may lay it upon my heart to continue). Guess what? The LORD gave me about 9 names and I have only discussed 4. Today, we will discuss the Moses’ strategy.

    the Moses Strategy

    In Exodus 17:8-16, we see that the people of Israel were up against the Amalekites. This is before they even get the 10 commandments in Exodus 20. The Amalekites were literally the first nation to fight against Israel as they came out of Egypt. They attacked Israel unprovoked without a justifiable reason. I’m talking about the enemy coming to attack very early into your life when you don’t even know your purpose or what you carry. That near-death experience you had in your childhood and that trauma you suffered in your teenage years was an Amalekite move of the Kingdom of darkness to frustrate your journey.

    What did Moses do? When you are attacked suddenly, what will you do? When there’s a premature attack long before the kairos moment, how do you handle it? The Moses strategy. By now, you should realise that every story in the Bible is super relevant. Every word in Scripture was specifically chosen to communicate. Every battle fought in Scriptures speaks volumes because they reveal precepts, principles, postures, practices and patterns.

    The Secret Things are from the Secret Place

    The Moses strategy can only be used by those who have a rich relationship with God in the secret place. It’s not self-confidence. It’s not just showing up and acting like a boss. The LORD has already promised to help us out on the day of calamity. When it strikes, Wisdom will appear beside you and show you how to navigate the situation. Wisdom will direct your steps and show you mysteries no man can teach you. The average Christian has a more active outer court life than a priestly Most Holy Place lifestyle. Thus, we rush to enter the Most Holy Place when things suddenly go south. Problems shouldn’t draw you closer to God more than love does.

    Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s about time we grew up. It’s babes who need a total intervention when things mess up. Every miracle in Scriptures included the participation of man. You may want God to get up and come and do it but isn’t it more romantic for God to do it through you? When you have an active prayer life and the altar of your secret place is on fire, the Amalekites strategy will not expose you. If your strength fails on the day of adversity, your strength is weak. We should be already ready before the day of battle because the enemy does not play by the rules. Moses didn’t pray so me too, I will show up and speak to the mountain because I don’t need to pray. My dear, you can’t fool spirits. If you don’t have it, you don’t have it. Whenever trouble comes and you see a man face it without praying for long in public, it’s because he already prays in secret. Refer to the ministry of Jesus!

    How to Do it Is As Important to God as What to Do

    When Wisdom tells you what to do, do exactly that. Moses does not need to fight in the battle himself. God is majestic; there’s a particular way He wants His things done. Wisdom teaches us who and how protocol and administration should be handled. If God tells you to do something, don’t just do it. Many people have been shocked to do what God told them and still see failure. You can hear God and do what God told you with your human wisdom. It will fail because it is the Wisdom of God that builds only what lasts. Once God tells you what to do, ask for His Wisdom on how it ought to be done. Wisdom is direct. It’s never ambiguous. Joshua in the valley, Moses on the mountaintop with Aaron and Hur.

    The Moses strategy is wisdom fully at play. Moses was to lift up his hand as an expression of the Hand of God destroying the enemies of God. It goes deeper than that. That was a picture of Jehovah Nissi, the LORD who is a Banner over us. His Hand is continually upon His people, and He lifts us up with His Victorious Right Hand. His Banner over us is Love, and He covers us in the shadow of His wings. A little problem, though. Moses is human and cannot stand and lift up his hand throughout the battle. Nonetheless, God is so vast that each human who comes to earth is meant to portray an aspect of God not fully known hitherto. That includes you and I.

    Understand this and it will forever help you in life; once God gives you Wisdom on what to do and how to do it, you plan your life in that direction. God is not going to tell you every little detail you need to do because the expression of your free will is still allowed within the confines of His Will. Did you get it? You are called to participate in His Will and every decision you make must be fully influenced by what He communicates to you. We saw that in the Nehemiah and Jehoshaphat strategy where it wasn’t a specific instruction from God that they do what they did but the strategy they chose was nevertheless in direct alignment to the Will of God expressed to them.

    The Place of Strategy

    By prophecy, you know what God wants you to do. By wisdom, you know how He wants you to do it. By strategy, you execute what He wants done. This pattern is also seen when Joseph talked with Pharaoh about the famine. It is foolish to strategize when you haven’t ascertained the Will of God concerning the matter. This upside down attitude of strategizing on our own before showing it to God to approve it is a waste of time. Everyone’s hands will become heavy eventually. If you really heard from Wisdom from the beginning, you would have listened and told Aaron and Hur to follow you to the top. The battle is won by the edge of the sword, yes. Yet, skill is nothing if you don’t have the Spirit. Don’t run into battle without a covering.

    Joshua and the people fighting did not realise that the outcome of the battle was not the number or the skillset or style. It was directly influenced by the covering. In the realms of the Spirit, just like in this realm, what you are allowed to do is what you have a permit for. You need a backing. How far you go is predetermined by what covers you. We ought to actively participate with God in the establishment of His Will in our lives and in the world. It was this encounter that led to Moses building an altar because the Name of the LORD has been revealed to him. I pray that as we plan and navigate life, God will order our steps in Him and bring us to the place of understanding that it is WITH Him that all things are made possible.

    The Moses Strategy teaches us to

    • have a rich hot-vibrant relationship with God on a daily basis, not when battles happen suddenly.
    • operate in the Wisdom of God to know precisely what to do – and how to go about it – in that given situation.
    • have a covering and permission for whatever we do in order to guarantee fruitfulness. Authority precedes strategy.
    • partner with God to establish His Will rather than having a mindset of watching God step in to do what man can do.

  • Gideon: Taking Back Territories for the Kingdom of God

    Has the enemy encroached on your land? Has evil taken over a territory? Has your nation become morally bankrupt? The United States moved from having global evangelical ministries and being the centrepiece of God’s endtime movement to not being able to define what a woman is when the woke virus infested the nation. The UK and many other European countries are now suffering from this moral decadence. It’s like Psalm 12 all over again. In countries like Ghana, inasmuch as there is still sin, the people involved in sin at least acknowledge their sinfulness and hide it from the public eye as much as possible. You know a territory is terrible when their definitions of moral objectivism is blurry and absurd. How do we take back territory for the Kingdom of God?

    Gideon was the fifth of the 12 Judges of Israel. It’s amazing that we have discussed 4 people so far; David, Nehemiah, Esther, Jehoshaphat (the fourth king of Judah) and we are now on the 5th Judge of Israel; Gideon, under the Warfare Strategies of the Kingdom of God series. You can follow by reading Judges 6 alongside this post for a better understanding. Let’s delve in!

    Legal Governance of Territories

    Just like in government, every territory has a ruler/governor who rules the place legally. By “legally”, I mean the powers are vested in that entity by the people themselves. It’s the same in the realms of the spirit. Every territory is ruled legally by whom the people choose as a cooperate body. Judges 6:1 shows that the people chose evil and did not want God to rule over them. Thus, there was a change in government; a handing over. The Bible is intentional about the choice of words. It clearly emphasizes that God delivered them into the hands of the Midianites. There was a change of hands. See, there are territories legally ruled by poverty (many places in Africa). There are those legally ruled by lust, like Vegas. Others are legally ruled by greed while others are ruled by filth. Note the word “legally”. God will not force Himself on anyone. It’s the will of the people that determines their ruler.

    The enemy now had an upper hand after the handing over, and decided to only attack their substance at the time of harvest. Every altar is powered by the sacrifices offered on it. Once a nation gives themselves to evil, there will be a rise in a particular vice as an offering to service that national altar. A rise in abortion, huh? Or a rise in suicide rates? A rise in obesity and health-related problems? Or a rise in political corruption? Sometimes, it’s a waste of time to try to solve symptoms when the underlying problem hasn’t been dealt with. The nation of Israel became greatly impoverished.

    Recognizing Patterns

    I have noticed that when the enemy gets the upper hand in a territory, people are not quick to realize. Perhaps, he kills an aunt by elephantiasis and no one realises it was him. Then two years later, he kills another aunt with the same disease but people brush it off as a coincidence. By the time it happens the third time, too much damage has already been done. The Midianites did not invade Israel randomly—they showed up only during harvest time. This was no coincidence; it was a diabolically calculated move to keep Israel impoverished. Judges 6:3-6 describes how the enemy would swoop in and take everything, leaving Israel with nothing.

    Israel, can’t you see that for the past 7 years, the Midianites only show up at harvest time? Can’t you see the negative pattern? Aren’t you aware of the diabolical trend? That is the “offerings” that the enemy comes to legally take as his dues for ruling over you. The enemy is wicked o. Meanwhile, if God asked for 10%, we will be grumbling. The enemy is taking 100% of all the produce. Sometimes the “dues” are that it doesn’t matter how much money anyone makes in the family, they will be poor; all their money will keep being used to pay for some strange unplanned expenses from time to time.

    The enemy is a thief but he makes sure that he steals from you by consent. He deceives you to get your consent and steals what rightfully belongs to you. How does a territory/family/community/nation break free? They must cry out to the LORD. I have seen people blame God for the problems the enemy caused because of their own decisions. Proverbs 19:3 says “there are some people who ruin their own lives and then blame it all on God”. Stop blaming God. Cry out to Him.

    How merciful God is; He heard their cry right away. However, here is the issue. It didn’t happen in a day when we chose evil instead of God and yet, we expect God to do magic in a day. God is all-Powerful and will deliver you the same day you call on Him. For sure! However, you have been masturbating or drinking or smoking half of your life; you have to go through an entire mental deliverance session. Your spirit is free but your mind needs to unlearn your old ways and that must take time. This is why the first thing He did was send forth His Word through prophet. Selah!

    The Gideon Strategy: A Sustainable Victory

    All this is part of the Gideon strategy. We want a quick fix but God wants a sustainable victory. God is about to take the least of this greatly impoverished nation and make him into a warrior who will rule the land for the Kingdom of God as long as he is alive. He will take the foolish things to always confound the wisdom of darkness. Surely, you are not more zealous than God to see your territory sane again. Trust His recovery plan. Your territory has to be transformed by the renewing of the mind because it conformed to the system of the world for long.

    Even Gideon himself was filled with bitterness and mediocrity when God encountered him. He was so greatly affected by the great impoverishment of the nation. How many people in corrupt countries think their countries will always be corrupt? Even the good people start to believe the lies. He called Gideon a mighty warrior, even though he saw himself as weak. God does not define us by our past or present circumstances—He defines us by His purpose for us.

    When you cried out to the LORD, He heard you immediately and work began behind the scenes. He sent a prophet with a message of God’s verdict and the hope of restoration. God told them that He has delivered them from the hands of Egypt before. Believe 100% in His track record and watch Him restore the territory to its former glory. God also made it clear that they brought this upon themselves because they didn’t obey His voice.

    God is justified in whatever decision He chooses to make but He decides to show them mercy by raising a Judge, and that is where He encountered Gideon in a winepress threshing wheat. Where you have a personal encounter with the LORD gives a clue about what He is about to do; He is about to thresh His people and consecrate their gain to Himself again. Also, never forget God’s choice of words in your encounter with Him.

    What we have discussed so far in 12 verses;
    1. Recognize the enemy’s legal hold over your territory. Evil gains power through the people’s choices.

    2. Understand the enemy’s strategy. Here, he attacked during harvest time to greatly impoverish the nation.

    3. Break the cycle by crying out to God. Stop blaming Him and start repenting.

    4. Trust in God’s track record. He has done it before and He will do it again.

    5. Embrace the Gideon Strategy. God’s plan is not a quick fix but a lasting transformation.

    If your family, community, or nation is under demonic oppression, God is looking for a Gideon. He is searching for someone He will raise up to tear down demonic altars and establish the Kingdom of God in that territory. Will you answer the call and let His Kingdom come on the territory as it is in Heaven?

    ….to be continued

  • The Jehoshaphat Strategy: Warfare Strategies of the Kingdom of God

    One of the things that brings utmost confusion to the camp of the enemy is when they surround you with problems and yet you praise God. Our worship is a weapon. Our praise affirms victory. It is a pattern throughout Scriptures; Joshua, Gideon, Jehoshaphat. Who would have thought that a trumpet 🎺 is an instrument of warfare? Yet, 7 trumpets are blown in the book of Revelations to release the wrath of God. Let us particularly discuss this as a Jehoshaphat strategy so that we learn to stand still and see the salvation of the LORD.

    The Jehoshaphat Strategy

    King Jehoshaphat was the fourth king of Judah when King Ahab and Jezebel ruled Israel. He lived at the time of Prophet Elisha as well. One day he woke up to hear that the Ammonites, Moabites and those at Mount Seir had joined forces and were about to launch a huge attack on Judah. To picture how devastating this is, their enemy was more than all the people in Judah, including women and children. They can wipe out this lineage of the Messiah, just as the devil tried through Haman during the time of Esther. It will shock you to know how many times the devil tried to prevent Jesus from being born.

    We are always at war but there are particular heightened seasons of spiritual warfare. During those seasons, the enemy will mobilize substantial attacks against you. What do you do?  That’s the time people complain to God for failing to protect them enough. That’s not what Jehoshaphat did.  He sought the LORD. He fasted and asked all those involved (the people of Judah) to fast and seek the face of God. He gathered the people of Judah to seek help from God. No threats to God. No murmuring. No complains. No accusations towards God. It is senseless to blame the One you seek help from. The prayer of Jehosaphat was to remind God of His promise and purpose.

    God is only obliged to answer prayers aligned to His promises, plans and purposes. One of such promises is that He doesn’t forsake those who seek Him (Psalm 9:10) and that we will seek Him and find Him if we seek Him with all our heart (Jer 29:13). Jehosaphat’s petition was to remind God that the present circumstances do not match His promised outcome. Therefore, God responded. The Spirit of God came upon Jahaziel and he prophesied. The Word of God came to remind His people that the battle is not against you; it is against Me. My friend, allow God to fight your battles. You are the apple of God’s eye. When the enemy touches you, He has touched God’s pupil.

    God gave them a sign by revealing what the enemy had planned. Then God told them something very absurd to the human brain; “you don’t need to fight in this battle. Position yourself, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you…”. We are more than conquerors because we are fighting in a war that God has won for us. Do you believe God’s Word? Put yourself in their shoes and see. If you believed in God’s Word, you wouldn’t have been so anxious about your problems. All you need is one Word from the LORD; you will understand that He is with you. The battle is yours to fight and His to win, and He already won. Fight from victory.

    It is so easy to trust God after He has done it. What He wants you to do is to trust Him even before you see any sign of victory. Jehosaphat and the people of Judah rose up early the following day and Jehoshaphat encouraged the people in some of the most famous words from Scripture;

    II Chronicles 20:20
    “…Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.”

    Now this is where the Jehoshaphat Strategy comes in. After consulting with the people, the strategy was to sing to the LORD en route to the battlefield. Mind you, it wasn’t a direct command from God like in the case of Joshua; it was an act of faith based on the Word of God.

    Things are not going as planned? Praise God. It looks like your prayers are not being answered? Praise God! It seems the prophecy is delaying? Praise God! You don’t know what to do anymore? Praise God! God has promised you victory? Praise God en route to your victory. The Bible tells us to give thanks to God in all things because it is the Will of God. The circumstances may not be God’s Will but your response should always be. One thing the kingdom of darkness is incapable of is praising God. Praise is the antidote for pride. Stop complaining. Stop murmuring. Stop threatening God. Stop threatening Him to prove Himself otherwise you will stop believing in Him. Who are you? He was God before you existed and will be God regardless of your outcome. Stop talking to God like He is the problem.

    When the spirit of anxiety, fear, dismay and disdain attack you long before the real battle begins, lift up your praise. Praise actually confuses the enemy. Remember that the devil started complaining in Heaven where there is only Glory but you are praising God where there is gloom. It doesn’t make sense but do it anyway. Show up on the battlefield with your weapon of praise. Let your Judah go first. The enemy will be so confused by your response, and that is when you will see the salvation of the LORD. He will fight your battles for you. Praise God as if He has already done it before He actually does it. That shows that you actually believe in God. We live in time and He is eternal, all-knowing and all-powerful. If He says He has taken care of it, believe Him. Praise God! This is how you enter rest on all sides.

  • The Esther Strategy: Warfare Strategies of the Kingdom of God

    In spiritual warfare, the battle is often deeper than the enemy we see—it is embedded in systems, decrees, and structures that outlive individuals. The Esther Strategy is not just about overcoming visible enemies; it is about dismantling the very systems that empower them and ensuring that righteousness is firmly established in places of influence.

    It is easy to make the mistake of focusing on personalities rather than the systems that make those personalities powerful. Haman was an individual, but his decree remained in force even after his death. King Xerxes was not the enemy—he was the gatekeeper, the one with the legal authority to make binding decisions. Understanding the role of gatekeepers is crucial. Let’s delve in!

    Influence Is a Responsibility, Not a Luxury

    When trouble arises in a territory where you have influence, you cannot afford to sit back and assume it will not affect you. If a problem keeps burdening you, it is a sign that you are part of its solution. You have more responsibility than you think. Mordecai’s warning to Esther was clear:

    “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish.” (Esther 4:13-14)

    We should not assume that because the battle is not directed at us personally, we have no role to play. But when God gives you access to power, it is not for self-preservation—it is for kingdom advancement. Esther understood this and acted. At first, she may have been embarrassed by Mordecai but when she understood that she was in that position for such a time, she rose in the power of God’s might. She did not pray against the king. She did not see King Xerxes as the enemy. She understood that the real enemy was Haman, and more importantly, it is the decree that gave him power.

    God has placed you in a strategic position to take action to solve a problem, so are you complaining that someone else should do something about it? Stop giving excuses. Stand in the gap and intercede. Mordecai saw that what Esther said as an excuse although she could literally die by the action she was about to take. “Go to the king, Esther. You were born for such a time as this”. Another thing to note; don’t just go in your intellect. Seek the face of God in fervent prayers before showing up at the round table of decisions. Selah!

    Gatekeepers Are Not the Enemy

    One of the mistakes we can make is praying against kings, rulers, and people in authority without understanding their role as gatekeepers. Unless otherwise instructed by God, don’t pray against leaders. No! Don’t pray against the one who is meant to promote you and show you favour.

    • Nehemiah did not pray against the king—he sought the king’s favour.
    • Joseph did not pray against Pharaoh—he became indispensable to him.
    • Daniel did not pray against Nebuchadnezzar—he influenced him to acknowledge the Most High God.

    It was the same in Esther’s case. King Xerxes was neither a godly man nor an enemy. He was simply a legal authority recognized by both the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness. Whoever influenced him could determine the fate of God’s people. This is why believers in positions of influence must be wise. If God has given you access to the ear of a leader, it is not for your personal gain. You are positioned to exert godly influence on the decision-making process of that leader.

    Haman May Be Dead, but His Decree Still Lives

    We rejoice when an evil ruler falls but we fail to realize that systems outlive people. The assassination of Osama Bin Laden did not automatically end terrorism. Killing witches in your family does not automatically break generational curses. Evil is systemic, and systems operate through laws, decrees, and structures that persist beyond individuals. The evil the enemy is perpetuating is mostly on a legal basis.

    Haman was executed, but his decree to exterminate the Jews remained in force. Esther had to return to the king, not just to celebrate Haman’s downfall, but to reverse his decree by passing a new one. This is where many fail. We fight battles halfway. We pray against the overthrow of enemies but do not establish righteous systems in their place. If you only remove an evil leader but do not raise righteous ones to replace them, you have done nothing. It is like casting out a demon from someone who is demon-possessed and not filling the person with the Holy Spirit. The situation will get worse soon.

    This is the danger in spiritual warfare. Don’t just fight what Haman created; fight what created Haman. The LGBTQ agenda, for example, is currently being stripped away in some places but if believers do not relentlessly ensure that righteousness is firmly established, the enemy will come back with greater force when the next administration takes power. This is called the retaliation of the enemy, which is often seven times more severe.

    The Esther Strategy demands that we dismantle evil, reverse its decrees, and establish righteousness so that evil cannot rise again immediately or permanently.

    Promote Mordecai

    Victory is not complete until:

    1. Haman is removed – The immediate threat is neutralized.
    2. Haman’s decree is revoked – The legal basis for oppression is overturned.
    3. Mordecai is promoted – Righteousness is established to secure the future.

    This is how spiritual and political victories are sustained. It is not enough to fight battles; we must build structures that prevent the enemy’s swift return. In modern governance, we see the same principle. When an ungodly leader is removed from power, the work is not finished. We must ensure that righteous policies, laws, and people take their place—otherwise, we are only delaying a greater crisis.

    Believers who have access to influence must be bold in their demands. Esther was hesitant at first but when she realized the urgency, she used her full authority. She did not ask for small favours. She demanded the complete dismantling of Haman’s plans and the establishment of new laws that favoured her people. This is what we must do today. The battle is not just about personal survival but about ensuring that righteousness is deeply rooted in the system.

    The Call to Strategic Warfare

    The Esther Strategy is a call to wisdom, boldness, and completeness in warfare. It is not about emotional reactions but strategic action.

    ✔ If you are in a position of any form of influence, do not be passive. Use your influence to reverse evil and establish righteousness.
    ✔ If an evil system exists, do not stop at bringing down individuals. Overturn the decrees that empower them.
    ✔ If victory is won, do not celebrate too early. Raise godly successors who will ensure lasting change.

    This is what Esther did, and this is what every believer must learn. Warfare is not just about winning battles—it is about establishing dominion. Dominion comes when we do not just eliminate evil, but ensure that righteousness takes its place. This is what it means to truly subdue the enemy.

  • The Nehemiah Strategy: Warfare Strategies of the Kingdom of God

    In the days of Nehemiah, when the walls of Jerusalem lay in ruins, the task was clear: to rebuild what had been lost. Nehemiah understood something that many in our time may have forgotten; You cannot build without waging warfare. This strategy we are about to learn helps to rebuild where we once lost and build in such a way that we don’t lose again.

    “Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon.” (Nehemiah 4:17). 

    Nehemiah Strategy

    The Nehemiah Strategy—where one hand builds, and the other fights. Where character is formed, and power is wielded. Where the walls of righteousness rise, while the weapons of warfare are drawn. The days of imbalance must come to an end. 



    Many have fallen into error by embracing one truth while rejecting another. Why do we have men with such good character and no power? The devil has deceived us into thinking it is either we build or we fight. They have sought to build, but they have refused to war. They have laid the foundation of doctrine, but left the enemy to roam freely. They do good but don’t fight evil. They have pursued knowledge, but abandoned the power that enforces it.  They have a form of godliness, but lack the power thereof. This is still a state of sleep. While men watch on without acting, the enemy walks unchallenged in territories that should belong to the saints. Yet, there is another error, just as destructive. 

    Some have gone into battle with swords drawn, but have built nothing to defend. They have fought, but have not been established. They have casted out devils, but have not formed character.  They prophesy in God’s name but God does not know them. They have performed miracles, but have not built the walls of righteousness. They are workers of lawlessness, and on that day, Jesus will tell them to depart from Him. A man may fight the enemy for years, but if he never builds, he is being distracted. This is why Nehemiah built and defended. This is why the builders carried weapons.

    There are two things every believer must carry: 

    1. Tool – Character of doing Good 

    “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” (Acts 10:38). 

    To build is to do good; character, integrity, faithfulness, holiness, love; maturing in the fruits of the Spirit and conforming to the image of Christ. Without this, power is dangerous. A man with a sword but no wisdom will destroy everything in his path. 

    2. The Weapon – The Power to War 

    “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8). 



    It is not enough to be good. You must be powerful. If you build but do not fight, the enemy will take everything you construct. If you create but do not defend, your work will be plundered before it is finished. A man with wisdom but no manifest power? Don’t allow the devil to bully you. Even if he never penetrates your walls because you are consistently faithful to God, you are not actively taking new territories for the Kingdom of God. Healings, miracles, signs and wonders MUST follow you. Stop saying it is not necessary. You were made for signs and wonders. What is the essence of lighting up a lamp and putting it under a basket to accommodate the darkness around it?

     
    The Nehemiah Strategy does not merely defend—it takes back what has been stolen. Building character is how you secure what God has given you. It prevents the enemy from finding access. It ensures that new territories, once taken, remain in the hands of the righteous.  Carrying power is how you reclaim what the enemy has taken. It drives out darkness. It establishes dominion where wickedness once ruled. If you do not fight, the enemy will still hold what had rightfully belonged to you. This is the balance we must walk in; a tool in one hand and a sword in the other.

    The Lion & the Lamb

    .Jesus did not come only as a builder, nor only as a warrior. He came as both. He lays down His life for us and defends the life He gave us so He does not lose His own, lest His ultimate sacrifice on the Cross becomes vain.  As the Lamb, He built—He taught, He healed, He loved. As the Lion, He warred—He cast out devils, He overturned tables, He conquered death. To carry one without the other is to misrepresent Him. There are those who emphasize only one side, and they are only defending on the battlefield as the enemy only attacks. There are also those on the other side; Those who emphasize only power, and they have fought without establishing anything; fighting for new territories while they keep losing the old to lack of character building. God is raising men who will carry both. 

    Final Charge

    For too long, many has been divided between those who build and those who fight but the time of imbalance has come to an end. The days of division are over. We must take up both the tool and the weapon. This generation cannot afford to choose one and reject the other. We will build and we will also fight.  We will walk in character and we will also walk in power.  We will establish righteousness and we will also overthrow darkness. If you desire to walk in the fullness of the Kingdom, hear this: Do not build without a weapon and do not fight without a foundation.  Take up the tool in one hand and the sword in the other and let the Kingdom of God be established in its fullness. 

  • Warfare Strategies of the Kingdom of God II

    Spiritual warfare is not God vs the devil. The devil does not even have access to the Highest Heaven to even face God. Spiritual warfare is not angels vs demons as we humans assist them. No! We are the ones on the battlefield. Spiritual warfare is the war for the hearts of men. The fate of the devil and all his demons have already been determined. It is yours that is yet to be determined; it will be determined by the choices you make here on earth. Although Jesus’ death and resurrection meant that the souls of all men in general was not eternally lost, the enemy has lost the war but has still won some battles. He has been successful in deceiving many men, using their God-given gifts to his advantage and corrupting them so they share the same fate as him eternally.

    So don’t think the devil is directly fighting God. No! He’s indirectly fighting God by directly fighting you. The earlier you get used to the idea that you are in a war, in an active battlefield, the better. It is not that good and evil are fighting on their own somewhere in the spiritual realm and it just so happens to affect you. No! You are the one fighting because the fight is about you. Have it at the back of your mind. Nonetheless, you are not fighting for victory but from victory already secured by Christ. The fact that the warfare is centered on men does not mean it’s a physical wrestle with carnal weapons. If you fight on your own, you will lose.

    Our victory was secured in Christ. Satan has built a counterfeit kingdom system that has made it impossible for any man to win against him. You can try; you will just be amongst the many men who tried with their own strength and failed. This is why this series is very necessary. It is meant to teach us how God raised men to fight and overcome. These men waxed strong, secured territories, gained ground, slain giants and conquered cities for the people of God. Of course, theirs was a physical battle with physical enemies but the precepts and principles still apply. Let’s continue the David strategy from last week;

    Speed

    “He makes me feel like the feet of deer…”. Some battles are won by fleeing. That is how sexual immorality is won. I don’t know why Christians find it perplexing when God tells them to flee from something. “Flee from that relationship”. “Flee from this town”. Yet we ask, “Isn’t God all-powerful?”. The fact that you are fleeing is not for God; it is for you. You are not wiser than God, are you? That notwithstanding, this is not the only area we need speed. Speed is not so we skip the process. Speed is so we make the most of the time. In warfare, many are not aware of the retaliation of the enemy. Don’t give the enemy a chance to recoup soon and come after your loot. Pursue and overtake! When the Philistines saw that Goliath was dead, they fled. However, the children of Israel did not just laugh at them and go home. No! They pursued them. Speed is grabbing a kairos moment and leaving no stone unturned.

    Stature

    “…and sets me on my high places”. In spiritual warfare, you fight at the level of your stature. The easiest way to die is to fight an enemy with a higher rank. Although you sit far above principalities and powers with Christ Jesus, you need to grow in stature. It’s just like a prince may sit far above in a kingdom but does not have the fighting ability for a war. Thus, he will need to be prepared. This is another reason why God deploys speed. Speed to set you on your high places. We take territories by treading upon high places (Deut 33:29). The high places are rightfully yours but it won’t come without a fight. At the end of the day, your elevation is justified because it matches your level of stature. I have noticed God sometimes keeps men below their level of stature for long so that when He finally elevates them, they are able to sustain their new level. This is how he sets you permanently. David was fighting lions and bears in private to increase in stature. When his fame grew abroad with the defeat of Goliath, David was able to sustain the level he was promoted to and won every battle he was sent to. Don’t rush. Don’t look for status when you don’t have stature.

    Training

    “He teaches my hands to make war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze”. Bows are typically made of wood and decorated with metal. A bow of bronze was never an actual weapon that existed. It was referring to God training us for the days of calamity where we are faced with humanly impossible situations. This is why God will not allow the people of Israel to enter the Promised Land for 40 years although they could use 11 days (Deut 1:2-3). On a day when your feet may fail, when you have no weapons in hand, can you make war/combat with your hands? There’s a reason why God wants to train your flesh now that no one really knows you. It is because there are battles awaiting you on the Promised Land. The enemy is defeated but won’t give up without a fight. Allow God to train you vehemently so you don’t fail Him on the day of calamity. Good character is at the foundation of great exploits. The devil will offer you sin on a silver platter one day; you will reject it without hesitation because you are well-trained. 1 Samuel 18:14 says “David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the LORD was with him”.

    ✔ For by You I can run against a troop – Courage

    ✔ By my God I can leap over a wall – Agility

    ✔ It is God who arms me with strength – Strength

    ✔ He makes my feet like the feet of deer – Speed

    ✔ and sets me on my high places – Stature

    ✔ He teaches my hands to make war – Training

    ✔  You have also given me the shield of your salvation

  • Warfare Strategies of the Kingdom of God

    Last year, I wrote extensively on a few of the many strategies the kingdom of darkness. By the Grace of God, we now get to go into the strategies of the Kingdom of God. I realized that the people of darkness are more aware about the strategies to perpetuate their kingdom agenda. However, the people of light have the power to shine in the darkness to bring incomprehension to their kingdom. I pray that in this light, you receive Light.

    David Strategy

    David had a natural God-given gift for music and poetry right from childhood. As a teenager, he used to play the harp in the fields as angels danced. His anointing in this area was so strong that it was the first to open a door for him to the palace. This young man could play the harp to shine light into the darkness on King Saul. You would think God wanted him to operate in this area only for the rest of His life but no.

    If any of us saw how David looked, we would be shocked to know that he never lost a battle. His stature was naturally not compatible with battle. Yet we get to see that God taught his hands to war. If we are going to take territories for the kingdom of God, we need to know and apply what I call the David strategy. Let us see how he defeated Goliath and caused his lineage to destroy the rest of the giants.

    GOLIATH: the Devil’s Fortified Weapon

    David’s best height at the peak of his life was 5’2. As a teenager, Goliath would be twice as tall as David and 20 times well-trained at war

    Many of us don’t realise that the enemy prepares for battle beforehand. He waited, observed, and preplanned how to get Adam and Eve to fall. His questions and timing for Jesus’ temptation were very intentional and well thought through. Goliath was the enemy’s strategy that he had planned for decades. Goliath was one of the devil’s most prepared weapons ever. As he was training Goliath with the sword, he made sure there was a lack of blacksmiths (and therefore a lack of swords) in Israel. By the time of the battle, only Saul and Jonathan had a sword in the entire army. Very strategic!

    What is the church lacking in this season? Resources? Character? It may be a sinkhole orchestrated by the enemy for a more drastic warfare in the future. Israel’s loss of this battle would kick start their perpetual enslavement on their own land. God was looking for a man but found none in the military. King Saul, who for this very reason had become king, could not muster courage as he still thought little of himself. After 40 days of spiritual warfare of threats from the frontline demons of anxiety and fear, just as it seemed there was no hope, David showed up.

    Mind you, the enemy had soaked the people of God with threats, breeding fear in their hearts. It would take a miracle to save them. Meanwhile, God made sure David didn’t show up until the time was right. 2 years ago, he had been anointed king (something he won’t become until 15 years later). It was for this very purpose of warfare. This anointing was responsible for his courage to face the lion and the bear. Goliath trained for 20+ years. God only needed 2 years. How did David go from being a musician to a warrior? He shows us how God trained him in Psalm 18. Let’s dive in;

    1 Courage

    “For by You, I can run against a troop..”. A troop is, at least, a 100 soldiers. Goliath needed to have fought with a troop but the enemy had an upper hand and dictated the rules of engagement; a one-on-one showdown. First of all, don’t play the devil’s game. You will lose. Don’t play by his rules. When the enemy employed his best wisdom, God deployed His foolishness to confound him. Instead of God using a giant, he used a teenager at puberty. David did not use the weapons of Saul. The weapons of the enemy are carnal (they appeal to the flesh and are based in the soul). “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God…”. See, it takes courage to obey the foolishness of God. Running against a troop is suicide. A whole nation sending a teenager to represent them against a giant is complete nonsense. Yet, David had courage. He told Goliath that he will cut off his head and yet, he had no sword. “Be strong and courageous…”

    2 Agility

    “…by my God I can leap over a wall.”. The average height of an ancient wall is 4 metres. It does not have our slender 150mm thickness. Most walls had people living in them, and soldiers could stand on the war during battle to shoot arrows. The walls were cuboids. Yet, David could leap high and wide over such a wall. He further explains in Psalm 18:33 that the LORD makes his feet like the feet of the deer. Asahel had this kind of feet (2 Samuel 2:18). The deer can run, turn sharply and jump. Do you know David run towards Goliath? Instead of always reacting to the kingdom of darkness, we ought to be proactive. Jesus went into the wilderness and had fasted before the devil showed up. Meanwhile, Adam was not around when the devil showed up. When the enemy builds a wall to isolate you, may you leap over the wall.

    3 Strength

    “It is God who arms me with strength…”. David slung the stone and struck Goliath so hard that the stone sank into his forehead. David’s arm strength was so much that Goliath fell on his face. The strength of the enemy is in his deceit. He is an already foe, and that’s exactly how David saw this uncircumcised Philistine. Our strength is in the name of the LORD, and that is what David came at Goliath with. Never fight the enemy with your own strength. “By human strength shall no man prevail”. God’s way is perfect as Psalm 18:30 says. Yet, verse 32 says God makes MY way perfect. That only happens when I personalise God’s way. His way of gaining strength is very different because in the realms of the Spirit, David had far more strength than Goliath had. The fight ended in less than a minute.

    Perhaps, you keep losing because you fight in your strength.  Are you trying to fight lust with your own strength? Are you trying to fight the perpetuation of evil with your own strength? Are you trying to fight the flesh, the world and the devil with your own strength? That’s not God’s perfect way. Come and wait upon the Lord as He arms you with renewed strength. ….to be continued