How Not to Empower the Devil

There is nothing the devil has that was not given to him. In Luke chapter four, while the devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness, he made a very remarkable statement whose import we seldom or never realise. It is written that

“The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all be yours."’ - Luke 4:5-7 (NIV)

The devil claimed the world was under his authority because it was given to him, and Jesus made no objection to his claims. So the question is: how and when was the authority over the world handed over to him? The answer can be found in the book of the beginning.

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth” - Genesis 1:26 (KJV)

God gave man - in the person of Adam - authority over all the earth, but Adam handed over that authority to the devil when he chose to obey the devil instead of God. It is written,

“Don't you know that you are slaves of anyone you obey? You can be slaves of sin and die, or you can be obedient slaves of God and be acceptable to him” - Romans 6:16 (CEV) 

Adam lost his authority and dominion over the earth when he made himself subject to the devil, and that’s what the devil wanted Jesus to do when he tempted Him in the wilderness to turn a stone into bread. He wanted Jesus to obey his command and thereby become subject to him. But thank God the second Adam was not ignorant of the devices of the devil like the first Adam. So we can see that Jesus was tempted in a similar way as Adam was, but what made the difference in their decisions was the knowledge Jesus had, a knowledge of which Adam was ignorant.

I also want to note that the word ‘delivered’ as used in the King James Version of Luke 4:6, is translated from the Greek word paradidōmi which means,

1) to give into the hands of another

2) to give over into (one's) power or use

3) to deliver verbally

4) to permit

Visit the following link for reference:

 http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G3860&t=KJV

So from this we can understand that the world was given over into satan’s power by man (in the person of Adam).

Now let us return to the statement, there is nothing the devil has that was not given to him. When you see the devil exercise authority in a family know that the authority was handed over to him by someone in that family, either in the near past or in the distant past, and this could have been done verbally.

The devil is empowered by the ignorance of the human race.

The devil wields authority over the world because of their ignorance. Like Adam they chose to serve and obey the devil because they are ignorant of spiritual truths; they are ignorant of spiritual realities. How do I know Adam lost authority over the world through his ignorance? I know so because he was ignorant of the devices of the devil; he was ignorant of the fact that the devil was after his throne.

But you see, the funny thing is that the devil was not ignorant of the fact that the mission of Jesus Christ– the Messiah – on earth, was to take back the authority that rightly belong to man, which was why He had to become a man to achieve that feat. The devil knew the mission of Jesus, but was only ignorant of the strategy Jesus intended to use to take back the authority. The apostle Paul wrote,

“But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” - 1Corinthians 2:7, 8, (KJV)

This means the princes of this world - example the prince of Persia (Daniel 10:13, 20), and the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2) - did not know the Christ would take back the throne through His death. If they had known God’s strategy they would have made sure nothing happened to Jesus so that the price for the sin of the human race would not be paid. But in their ignorance they crucified the Lord of Glory, thereby sealing their fate and ensuring victory for man.

The devil is empowered by the ignorance of the Church.

Anything the enemy has taken from us was given to him through ignorance, which is why we can never take back what the devil stole from us unless we first of all deliver ourselves from the ignorance that empowered the enemy in our lives.

It is a tragedy to live in ignorance of spiritual truths. You cannot exercise spiritual authority if you live in ignorance of spiritual truths. Knowledge gives you the confidence and the boldness you need to confront the adversary. Until you know who you are in Christ Jesus, until you have accurate knowledge of the position of the enemy, until you realize that the position of the enemy is under the feet of Christ (Hebrews 2:8), you cannot exercise authority over him and take back what rightfully belongs to you.

Jesus said in John 10:10,

“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have {and} enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)” - AMP

The devil achieves this through the ignorance of God’s people. The devil steals from us because we think we are not deserving of the things he has taken away from us; we think we cannot have it all. He kills God’s people because they are ignorant of the covenant of life and long life that God has made with them (Psalm 118:17, Malachi 2:5, Psalm 91:14-16, Pro 3:1, 2). Jesus said, “The thief comes only in order to…destroy” and in Hosea 4:6, the Holy Spirit speaking through the prophet Hosea said,

“My [chosen] people [the godly, the upright, those who have a right standing relationship with God] are destroyed [ruined, killed, subdued, defeated, reduced, wasted, rendered useless, rendered ineffective] because of their ignorance. Because you have despised and rejected divine knowledge [discernment, understanding, wisdom], you will not be a minister of my Word. Because you neglect the practice of my principles, I will also neglect and forget [to bless] your children” (paraphrase by Maikh Etto)

The prophet Isaiah also said,

“Therefore my people are gone into captivity for lack of knowledge; and their honorable men are famished, and their multitude are parched with thirst. “

-Isaiah 5:13, (ASV) 

Jesus came to give us abundant life, but we cannot experience this abundant life through ignorance; we cannot experience abundant life by living in ignorance of the truths that Jesus came to reveal to us. We cannot be more than conquerors through ignorance. In Matthew 23:34 Jesus said,

“I will send you prophets, and wise men, and inspired writers…” (TLB)

The Holy Spirit gave me a rhema word from this scripture, and I want to share it with you. He said to me: “For everything you need to succeed with your life, God has inspired someone to write about it. If you're not reading it, you're not getting it.” Therefore go get it!

Maikh Etto

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DECISIONS

May the Lord give us d wisdom, not to make good decisions, but to make the right decisions. 
Maikh Etto
 http://maikh.eca.sh/triond

Adulthood

Adulthood makes me realize I have a lot of learning to do

Maikh Etto
http://maikh.eca.sh/triond

A MESSAGE FOR THE YEAR 2011 AD

Hello there. I have a message from the Lord to share with you. Two days to the wrapping up of the year 2010 AD, the Lord gave me a message, telling me some of the things He will do in the year 2011 AD. He told me it is a year of remembrance, a year He will remember His people. I know you may wonder if the Lord forgot His people or whether He can forget His people. But I want to address this question by saying that God does not and cannot forget His children. So why then did He tell me the year 2011 AD is a year He will remember His people?

The word “remember” in the Old Testament is translated from the Hebrew word zâkar which according to Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries means “to mark (so as to be recognized), that is, to remember; by implication to mention”. As we read our Bibles we often come across some verses that minister to us in some special way and we use a marker to mark those verses so we can easily locate, recognize or remember them any time we pick up our bibles to read. From this we can understand that what the Lord is saying is that in 2011 AD He shall do the same thing with us – He shall mark us out for a special attention and for special blessings; He shall mark us to be remembered in a very special way.

Now let me outline in details the things that God shall remember in the year 2011 AD.

1.                  In the year 2011 AD, the Lord shall remember you and show you mercy for your sins and for the mistakes you made in the past.

“And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee” - Judges 16:28

Sampson had a calling upon his life. He was anointed of God to be a deliverer to his people. But he had a problem with obedience to God’s instructions; he embraced a life of sin and rebellion. As a result of this, several terrible things happened to him, and there were some things he lost that he couldn’t recover, including his sight.

Sin has consequences. People who rationalize sin with the mentality that they can always get God’s forgiveness after all, need to understand that God’s mercy and forgiveness is not a magic wand that can wipe away our past and the consequences of our actions and foolishness.

However, if we have sin, it is better to seek God’s face that we may recover our relationship with Him, even though we may have lost a lot of things including our reputation. The only thing Sampson recovered was his relationship with the Lord and his strength, and that made a whole lot of difference. The Lord remembered Sampson and showed him mercy for his sins and mistakes, and He will do same for us if we humble ourselves and seek His face. Sampson had to call upon the Lord before the Lord remembered him. If you do the same this year, He will remember you… He will mark you out to show you mercy and bring restoration to your life.

2.                  In the year 2011 AD, the Lord shall remember you and reward you for your goodness and for the labor of love that you have done over the past years. In the book of First Kings we learn that the Lord remembered King Hezekiah to reward him for his goodness.

 ‘Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed: "Remember, LORD, that I have served you faithfully and loyally and that I have always tried to do what you wanted me to." And he began to cry bitterly. Isaiah left the king, but before he had passed through the central courtyard of the palace the LORD told him to go back to Hezekiah, ruler of the LORD's people, and say to him, "I, the LORD, the God of your ancestor David, have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you, and in three days you will go to the Temple. I will let you live fifteen years longer. I will rescue you and this city Jerusalem from the emperor of Assyria’ - 2Kings 20:2-6(GNB)

We can find another case in the book of First Samuel where the Lord remembered Hannah and gave her the desire of her heart.

“And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her. Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD” - 1Samuel 1:19, 20

Hannah did not conceive and bear a son because she had sex with her husband (they had been doing that for the past couple of years), but because “the LORD remembered her”. In the year 2011 AD the Lord shall remember you (mark you out), and as a result of this you will experience success in those things you failed in the past without necessarily doing anything different. The only thing that will make the difference is that the Lord will remember you – He will mark you out to be blessed.

Mordecai was another righteousness man who at a time was not rewarded for his goodness and righteousness. The Bible records that,

“In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name. And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king” - Esther 2:21-23

The good deed of Mordecai was recorded but he was never rewarded. However, the Lord remembered him and caused his name to be mentioned to the king, for God was about to reward him for his goodness and righteousness. The Bible says,

“On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him” - Esther 6:1-3

The Bible says the “The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will” (Proverbs 21:1). He caused King Ahasuerus to have sleepless nights and to command that the book of the records be opened because God’s book of records in heaven was opened and Mordecai’s name was mentioned and marked out for a special reward.  In 2011 AD, God’s book of records will be opened and your name shall be mentioned in heaven for the Lord to visit you and bless you in a very special way.

In 2011 AD, the Lord shall also remember His servants. Ministers of the Gospel who have toiled in the Lord’s vineyard for many years will be marked out by the Lord for a special blessing and reward for their goodness and for the labor of love they have done for the past years. Hebrews 6:10 says, “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister”. The Greek word adikos translated “unrighteous” here means to be unjust; wicked; treacherous. But God will remember you and reward you because He is not treacherous, unjust or wicked. The Bible says there is only goodness in Him.

For a long time many of God’s people have felt that there is no reward for doing right, because they had continued to suffer in spite of the fact that they seek after righteousness; it has seem as though the wicked get rewarded with good for the evil they do. But in 2011 AD, the Lord shall cause kings (people who are in a position to reward) to recognize you and bless you. God shall move the hearts of kings to recognize you and reward you for the good that you have done over the years. The Lord shall do this because it is written in His Law that “to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward” (Proverbs 11:18). In 2011 AD God shall surely reward you!

3.                  In the year 2011 AD, the Lord shall remember you and bring an end to the hardships, difficulties, tests and trials that you have faced all these years. In Genesis 8:1, it is recorded that

“God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters assuaged”

Water (or flood) in scriptures is often symbolic of difficulties, tests, and trials. The Psalmist said to the Lord, “Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place” (Psalm 66:12). The Good News Bible says, “we went through fire and flood” (also see Psalm 69:1, 2 & 14).

Just as God remembered Noah to bring an end to the flood, in the year 2011 AD, He shall remember you and bring and end to the flood of hardship, difficulties, tests, and trials that you have faced over the years.

4.         In the year 2011 AD, the Lord shall remember your oppression by the enemy; He shall bring an end to the oppression and affliction of the enemy and also reward them accordingly. The Bible says, “and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies” (Numbers 10:9). You have to understand that the Lord did not and has not forgotten you while you suffer the oppression of the enemy; He did not and has not abandoned you. God is so wise that He often uses the plans of the enemy to achieve His own purposes. If you observe your life, you will discover that one way or the other God has used the plans of the enemy against you to achieve something valuable in your life. Never forget that He is the head of all principalities and powers, and in consequence of this, all the wisdom, plans, and strategies of the enemy against us are beneath His wisdom, power and authority. In Jeremiah 15:15 the prophet prayed,

“LORD, you understand me. Remember me and take care of me. People are hurting me. Give them the punishment they deserve. You are being patient with them. But don't destroy me while you remain patient with them. Think about me. Think about the pain I suffer for you” (Easy-to-Read Version).

In the year 2011 AD, your name shall be mentioned in heaven, and the Lord shall mark you out to bring an end to the oppression of the enemy in your life. Also, the Lord shall remember that there is a reward for those who oppress His love ones and shall reward them accordingly.

I pray that this word from the Lord should become flesh in your life. If you bring yourself under the banner of this message by accepting it and speaking it in prayer to the Lord, you shall see it come to pass in your life.

God bless you.

Maikh Etto

Copyright © 2011 Maikh Etto. All Rights Reserved.

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GOOD IDEA versus GOD’S IDEA

There is a difference between a good idea and the right idea. An idea may be good but it may not be the right thing for us to do. A good idea is one that is agreeable, pleasing, or appealing to the mind; one that looks favourable, promising, and beneficial to us. But the right idea is one that is proper and suitable for us.

There is also a difference between a good idea and God’s idea. A good idea is often what we think is the right thing for us to do after evaluating the prevailing circumstances that surrounds our lives. But a God idea is what God wants us to do, and is a product of divine information, revelation or inspiration. Also, I have learnt from experience that God’s idea is often the right one, even though it may not look like a good idea.

The good idea that comes into our minds may not always be the right idea, and I’ll show you that from scriptures. I have also learnt from my study of the Scriptures that apart from our minds which generate ideas for us based on our knowledge, wisdom, and intellection, there are supernatural forces that seek to influence our lives and decisions by projecting ideas into our minds, and these supernatural powers are God and the devil.

Moses said to the people of Israel,

“Then Moses said, "I will show you proof that the LORD sent me to do all the things I told you. I will show you that all these things were not my own idea” (Num 16:28, Easy-to-Read Version)

Other supporting Scripture:

 “So the elders asked for a king to lead them. Samuel thought this was a bad idea, so he prayed to the LORD. The LORD told Samuel, "Do what the people tell you. They have not rejected you. They have rejected me. They don't want me to be their king. They are doing the same thing they have always done. I took them out of Egypt, but they left me and served other gods. They are doing the same to you. So listen to the people and do what they say. But give them a warning. Tell the people what a king will do to them. Tell them how a king rules people." Those people asked for a king. So Samuel told them everything the LORD said. ” (1Samuel 8:6-10, Easy-to-Read Version)

This shows that some of our ideas are products of our cerebration or thinking. Also, in 1Chronicles 21:1, it is recorded that

“Satan decided to cause trouble for Israel by making David think it was a good idea to find out how many people there were in Israel and Judah” (Contemporary English Version)

This shows that some of the ideas we conceive may have been projected from the pit of hell to distort and interrupt God’s plans and purpose for our lives, and to bring about destruction.

Here are other supporting Scriptures:

“The woman could see that the tree was beautiful and the fruit looked so good to eat. She also liked the idea that it would make her wise. So she took some of the fruit from the tree and ate it. Her husband was there with her, so she gave him some of the fruit, and he ate it” (Gen 3:6, Easy-to-Read Version)

“Peter said, "Ananias, why did you let Satan fill your mind with such an idea? You kept part of the money for yourself and lied about it to the Holy Spirit!” (Act 5:3, Easy-to-Read Version)

“While supper was taking place, the devil had already put the idea of betraying Jesus into the mind of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot” (John 13:2, God's Word).

 Nehemiah said,

“So God gave me the idea to bring together the people, their leaders, and officials and to check the family records of those who had returned from captivity in Babylonia, after having been taken there by King Nebuchadnezzar…” (Nehemiah 7:5, Contemporary English Version)

This is proof that God does give us ideas so we can do His will.

Here is another supporting Scripture:

“Blessed is the LORD, the God of our ancestors. He put the idea into the king's heart to honor the LORD'S Temple in Jerusalem” (Ezra 7:27, Easy-to-Read Version).

So in 1Chronicles 21:1 we see the devil influencing King David’s life and decisions by injecting a good idea into his mind. This shows that a good idea we conceive and probably act upon may have been projected from the pit of hell. Also, remember that David was a man after God’s heart (Acts 13:22), which shows that in spite of our spiritual maturity, in spite of the fact that we have a pure and sincere heart for the Lord, we should always Guard our hearts with all diligence, and depend on God’s wisdom, instead of leaning upon our own understanding (Proverbs 4:23, 3:5).  

We have the responsibility to “tear down every proud idea that raises itself against the knowledge of God. We also capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ” (2Corinthians 10:5, Easy-to-Read Version). But to do this we must first recognise such ideas. We can only recognise such ideas if we “follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives” (Galatians 5:25, NLT) and “let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds… (Colossians 3:15)

Never forget that the fact that an idea is good does not necessarily mean that it is the right idea or God’s idea. A good idea is often what we think is the right thing to be done, but God’s idea is exactly what He wants us to do.

We often make mistakes in life because we choose to run with every good idea that comes into our minds, without considering if it is the right thing for us to do.

God bless you!

Maikh Etto

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