Righteous Invasion of Truth

Guest (Male): And so we are ready this morning with your hands lifted above your head, put them together with a joyful shout. Let's receive our pastor, Dr. Abel Damina!

Dr. Abel Damina: Glory! Glory to God! Somebody excited this morning? Hallelujah! Lift your right hands to heaven. Father, we thank you for the privilege of learning and growing in the knowledge that is available to us in Christ Jesus. Thank you, Lord, that your word comes with clarity this morning. Revelation knowledge is gifted everybody under the sound of my voice.

Thank you, Father, that whatever is not planted by God is rooted out. We decree that burdens and yokes are destroyed. Your people are built up, equipped, edified, Jesus is glorified. So we rejoice that our fellowship together in the light causes us to mature even as we continue to carry out the assignment you've given to us collectively and individually. So we rejoice that by the end of this service we'll be the better for it. In Jesus' name we pray. And every believer says a powerful Amen!

Glory! Lift your right hands to heaven, let's release our faith together as we say these words: I am born of God. I am born of the word. The word of God is my nature. I do not struggle to do the word. I do the word naturally. Therefore today, I will understand the word of his grace. I will be built up. By the end of this service, I will never be the same. Never ever be the same again. In Jesus' name, and every believer says a powerful Amen! Glory! Are we excited to study God's word together this morning? Can we celebrate our fellowship with a shout!

We've been examining the church of God in Christ, the church of God in Christ, and we've been looking at the great commission. Let's look at it. Matthew chapter 28 verse 18 to 20. Matthew chapter 28 verse 18 to 20.

Guest (Male): And Jesus came and spake unto them saying, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost."

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you alway even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Dr. Abel Damina: Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Teaching them to observe all things. That's the mandate: Go and make disciples of all nations. And how do you make disciples? By teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo, I am with you always to the end of the world, Amen.

That's what we call the great commission. And the same great commission given to us by Jesus which was recorded by Matthew was also recorded by brother Mark in Mark chapter 16 verse 15. Mark 16:15 to 18. Mark chapter 16 verse 15 to 18.

Guest (Male): And he said unto them, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."

Dr. Abel Damina: They shall cast out demons or devils in my name. In my name, they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover. All of those are the things that accompany the great commission: the preaching of the gospel. That as we get involved with making disciples, we cast out demons, we heal the sick, we teach the word, and we manifest the purpose and the goodness of God to people who are open to the truth of the gospel.

So we began to look at demons, we began to look at Satan, we began to look at how to cast out demons and how to exercise the authority of the believer. Because the believer is in authority over demons, over devils, and over Satan himself. The believer is not a victim. The believer is in the place of authority. The authority of Jesus has been given to the believer who is seated together with Christ in the heavenlies. In the book of Ephesians chapter 1 verse 18, brother Paul began to pray for the church in Ephesians chapter 1 verse 18 to 23. Put it up for me.

Guest (Male): The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.

Dr. Abel Damina: He has put all things under his feet and he has given him to be the head over all things to the church. So he's the head of the church; the church is the body. The authority of the head flows through the body. What the head can do, the body can do. He is the head, we are the body, and the authority that has been given to Jesus has been given to the believer. The power that raised Jesus from the dead is resident in the believer that is in Christ. And that is why brother Paul in his epistles took time to deal with words like prepositions, like "in", "by", "through", "in", "by", "through".

So you have the terms "in Christ", "in whom", "by whom", "in him". You see those terms. "In Christ", "in whom we have", "by whom we have access", "in him we live". You see those terms. Those are not casual terms. "In", "in", "in", "in him", "in Christ", "by whom", "through him"—all those are prepositions.

Now, so we are to see Christ raised and seated far above all principalities and powers. We are to see Christ raised and seated. That's our mindset. That's how our minds are supposed to function. We are to see Jesus in a position of authority. Look at the book of Philippians chapter 2 verse 5 to 9. Philippians chapter 2 from verse 5 to 9.

Guest (Male): Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.

Dr. Abel Damina: He was given a name upon his resurrection, the name above every name. The name of a man refers to the weight of a man. It also speaks of what that man has accomplished. The name of a man refers to the weight of a man and it also refers to what that man has accomplished. So our understanding of Christ must be in this light: that Christ is seated far above all principalities and powers. He has a name that is above every name.

In Ephesians, that same Ephesians chapter 2 from verse 1 to 6, he began to talk about the fact that you have been quickened and you have been raised from the dead, and that even you who was dead in sins hath quickened us together with Christ, for by grace are ye saved, and has raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. So the believer in Christ is seated in Christ in the place of authority and dominion. Every child of God is seated in the place of authority and dominion.

And Jesus begins to emphasize on the exercise of authority when he spoke to his disciples where we just read in Matthew chapter 28. "Go and preach the gospel. All authority is given to me. Therefore go and preach the gospel to every creature, go and make disciples of every nation." And then in the book of Mark chapter 16 from verse 13 to 14, Mark 16 from verse 13 to 14 before he gave them the great commission.

Guest (Male): And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them. Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

Dr. Abel Damina: They didn't believe those who came with the eyewitness account of his resurrection. Then after that he now says, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." And he gave them what we call the great commission. So the believer's authority is found in Christ. The believer's authority is found in Christ Jesus.

And that is why the believer must understand the resurrected Christ, the resurrected Jesus. And brother Paul began to pray that the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling and what is the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe according to the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places.

Now in verse 18 he talks about the riches of his glory and he calls that the inheritance—the riches of his glory. In verse 19 of Ephesians chapter 1 he talks about the exceeding greatness of his power—the exceeding greatness of his power. In verse 20 of that Ephesians chapter 1 he talks about wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand, which he wrought in Christ.

Then Colossians chapter 3 verse 1 now says: "If you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God." Then he said, "Set your affections on things above and not on things on the earth." So the believer is to continually feed on the fact that we are in Christ. You must never lose that. We are in Christ. Every time you think about you, think about you in Christ.

When you pray, you are praying in Christ. When you exercise authority, you're exercising your authority in Christ. The believer must be Christ-conscious. You must be conscious of your status and identity in Christ Jesus.

Now it's important for you to know that you have authority, but it is more important to know how to put that authority to use. How do you exercise the authority that you have? Because if you're going to cast out demons and if you're going to heal the sick, you must know how to exercise the authority that has been given to you by the Lord Jesus. Now the epistles have words that were inspired of the spirit to be written for us. Look at Hebrews chapter 13 verse 20 to 21. Hebrews chapter 13 verse 20 to 21.

Guest (Male): Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Dr. Abel Damina: Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing. Make you perfect to do his will. So the believer must be somebody who understands the authority given to you and it is in you exercising it that you are wellpleasing to God. When you exercise that authority, you don't just sit down with the authority and fold your hands, but you exercise that authority, you recognize that you are the one in authority. Satan is not in authority.

So the question is, how do you exercise authority? You exercise authority by speaking, by words. The authority of the believer is exercised through speaking. You must be able to speak. You must be able to speak words. Let's look at how Jesus used his authority. Mark chapter 11 verse 14. Mark chapter 11 verse number 14. How Jesus used his authority.

Guest (Male): And Jesus answered and said unto it, "No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever." And his disciples heard it.

Dr. Abel Damina: And Jesus answered and said. Now when you use the word "answered", it means something spoke to you. You cannot just answer without somebody first of all saying something to you. He answered. He didn't say. Jesus didn't say. Jesus answered and said unto it. So "it" must have spoken to him. "It" must have spoken to him. Which means it's not just human beings that speak; circumstances also speak. Situations of life speak. And it means also events of life speak to us. Look at what he answered. He answered and said unto it. Now, before we proceed with his "said unto it", give me verse number 13. Mark 11:13.

Guest (Male): And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.

Dr. Abel Damina: The time of figs was not yet. He didn't find anything on it. He was disappointed. It disappointed his expectation. Next verse: "And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever." And his disciples heard it. A man who speaks to trees. A man who speaks to trees. Jesus answered and said unto it. He spoke *to* it. He did not speak *about* it. He did not complain *about* it. He spoke *to* it.

Most times we think we're exercising authority when we are talking *about* the situation. No, you exercise authority by speaking *to* it. Jesus spoke *to* it. He didn't go around saying, "You see this fig tree? Useless fig tree. I've been waiting to see if it would have figs. The other day I stopped by, it didn't even have figs. Look at my disappointment." No, no. He looked at the tree and he said to it specifically, "No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever." And the disciples heard him. He did not speak it quietly. He spoke it loud enough for the disciples to hear him.

No man eat fruit of thee. Sickness in this body, dry up and wither from the root. Demon spirits, out. He didn't speak to God to speak to it. "Oh Lord our Father..." No. "And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever." And his disciples heard it because it was a training for the disciples on how to exercise authority. No man eat fruit of thee forever.

"Son of man, can these bones live?" "Lord, thou knowest." "No. You prophesy." "And I prophesied as I was commanded: O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord." And Jesus spoke *to* it. You must learn to speak to things. You must learn to exercise authority by addressing situations, addressing circumstances. Look at verse 21 of Mark 11. Mark 11:21.

Guest (Male): And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, "Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away."

Dr. Abel Damina: Peter calling to remembrance said unto him, "Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away." Now in the original, "the cursedst" is not there. In the original, it's the fig tree that you spoke to. Not cursed. He spoke to, because it was a lesson in the exercising of authority. "The fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away." Peter calling to remembrance. When was Peter calling to remembrance this event? Look at verse 20. Verse 20 of Mark 11.

Guest (Male): And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.

Dr. Abel Damina: In the morning as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. Dried up from where? From the roots, not from the branches. It withered from the roots. When you apply the authority of God's word to a situation, God's word goes to the root of the matter. It goes to the root of the matter. Give me verse 19, PJ. Verse 19.

Guest (Male): And when even was come, he went out of the city. And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.

Dr. Abel Damina: The following morning. The following morning. One day was gone. By the next day as they were coming back, they passed by where the fig tree was; it had dried up. Now scientifically, physically, and normally, a tree does not dry up in less than 12 hours, even if you cut it. Even if you burn it with fire, it doesn't dry up in less than 24 hours. But the word of the Lord subdues time and matter. It went to the root of the matter.

How do we exercise authority? We speak to things. Jesus didn't speak to the tree and sit down waiting to see if it would happen. No, men that have authority don't check. They speak and know that what they have spoken is effective. Say with me, "I have authority over demons, over devils, over circumstances, over situations. I am in authority here." Say, "Therefore, my words are the vehicles that transport my authority. I speak words."

"No man eat fruit of thee hereafter." The disciples heard it. The next day the tree has withered and the tree has dried up. And look at verse 22. Peter said, "Master, the tree you cursed is withered away." Mark 11:22.

Guest (Male): And Jesus answering saith unto them, "Have faith in God."

Dr. Abel Damina: Jesus answering said to the disciples, "Have faith in God," or "Have the faith that God gives," or "Have God's faith." Have God's faith. You can do what I did. It functions by the faith of God. It functions by faith, God's own faith. Have God's faith. Then he says, "This is how God's faith operates. This is how to function God's faith." Next verse, PJ.

Guest (Male): For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

Dr. Abel Damina: "For verily I say unto you..." This doesn't have to be me. It doesn't have to be Jesus. "Whosoever". This authority is available to whosoever. If you just know how to function it, you will have the results. "Whosoever shall say *to* this mountain". Not whosoever shall say *about* this mountain, but *to* this mountain. Just like I said *to* this tree.

"Be thou removed, be thou cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass, he shall have whatsoever he saith." Have God's faith. Have God's faith.

Brother Paul calls this faith of God or faith in the blood. In the four gospels it was called "Have faith in God," but when brother Paul was writing about it in the advancement of the verbiage, he called it faith in the blood. Romans 3:25. Romans chapter 3 verse number 25, PJ.

Guest (Male): Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

Dr. Abel Damina: Through faith in his blood to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God. So brother Paul calls it the faith of God or faith in the blood. Then pay attention to the word "whosoever". It implies anyone who has the faith of God. Glory to God! How many of us have the faith of God here? If you have the faith of God, say with me, "I have the faith of God."

So once you have the faith of God, you shall say to this mountain and you shall have whatsoever you say. Once you have the faith of God, you shall address circumstances and situations. If you observe, Jesus spoke to the mountain—didn't speak about the mountain. He said, "Whosoever, you will say *to this* specifically." So in the use of authority, you should know how to speak to something. You should know how to speak to something.

A man who wields authority over something will speak to—he will speak to it. He will give instructions. He will issue commands. It therefore can be said that a man will be found doubting when he speaks *about* the mountain and not *to* the mountain. When you are talking about it, it means you're in doubt. In faith means you speak to it.

Okay, why are you talking about it? Why are you talking about it when it is in your power to talk to it? You're talking about it because you are still trying to negotiate whether you really believe that you can speak to it or not. Because if you know you can speak to it and it will obey you, there's no point talking about it. You only talk about what you don't know how to solve. When you know how to solve something, you don't talk about it; you solve it.

So you're talking about it. "Oh this problem... Oh I've been going through... Oh..." Because you're not yet sure that you can speak *to* it. But once you have the faith of God, you would say and it should obey you. That's what Jesus said in the book of Matthew. Same event in Matthew.

Brother Matthew gives it a bit clearer. Matthew 17:20. Matthew chapter 17 verse number 20, PJ.

Guest (Male): And Jesus said unto them, "Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you."

Dr. Abel Damina: It shall remove. You will say "remove", it shall remove. Dealing with circumstances and situations. The word "mountain" will refer to anything you have authority over. In this case, the mountain is a demon, that demon spirit, that sickness, that disease. Jesus spoke to it. People in authority speak *to*. They speak *to*. Jesus' words have more impression than his teachings. He used his words. He used his words. Look at Matthew 15:24. Matthew chapter 15 verse number 24 to 28.

Guest (Male): But he answered and said, "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Then came she and worshipped him, saying, "Lord, help me." But he answered and said, "It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs." And she said, "Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus answered and said unto her, "O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt." And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

Dr. Abel Damina: Her daughter was made whole from that very hour. In this instance, we see petition explained. The word "petition" makes a fixed desire—a fixed desire. The woman stayed with her desire. She did not allow anything to shift her from her desire. Even when Jesus said, "You are a dog," she held onto her desire and said, "Yes, I am a dog, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the table. I still want you to heal my daughter." She did not shift position. Fixed desire.

Faith was located in her words. Jesus located faith in what she said. So faith in prayer is known by words. Words. Words. And we saw that both angels and demons respond to words.

Now the example of the Centurion lends credence to how to use one's authority. Look at Matthew the eighth chapter, the eighth verse. Matthew chapter 8 verse 8.

Guest (Male): The centurion answered and said, "Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed."

Dr. Abel Damina: Speak the word only. Don't come to my house. Some people believe that if I can just see Dr. Damina, if I can just see Dr. Damina, I'll be okay. And yet every Sunday and every Wednesday, sometimes all through the week, Dr. Damina is speaking words. You don't have to see me. You don't have to see me. Speak the word only and my servant shall be whole.

What your word can do is what you can do. You don't have to physically come. You speak the word only. "Don't come under my roof. I'm not even worthy, my house is not good enough for you to come in." That's what she was saying. "But just speak the word only and my servant shall be healed." Observe the phrase "speak the word only". Now look at that same Matthew the eighth chapter, the ninth and tenth verse. Matthew 8:9 and 10, PJ.

Guest (Male): "For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it." When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, "Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel."

Dr. Abel Damina: I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. This implies that an authority, or in authority, you give instructions to "go", "come", "do this". That's how you exercise authority. "Go", "come", "do this", "do that". That's how you exercise authority.

I say to one "come", he comes. I say to one "go", he goes. I say to one "do this", he does it. He broke it down to show you how authority—how you even exercise it in words. "Go", "come", "do this". That's how to exercise authority. Not to say, "Oh, this sickness has come again." You're not in authority. In authority, you would say, "In the name of Jesus, go! Not here!" Amen. That's how you exercise authority.

What is the basis for exercising authority? Have the faith of God. How many of us have the faith of God here? Do you have the faith of God? Say with me, "I have the faith of God." That's all I need to exercise authority. And you know, the faith of God is not in degrees. There's no 30%, 20%, 40%.

I remember a few years ago I was invited to preach somewhere and I went the day after somebody had come and preached about faith in degrees: small faith, great faith, little faith, no faith. "You have no faith, so there are Christians that have no faith. You have little faith, so there are Christians with little faith. You have great faith, there are Christians with great faith. And there are Christians with this mighty faith." And he was busy messing up their minds, throwing some of them into the school of doubt and unbelief.

"Maybe that's why my prayer hasn't been answered, because I have no faith." "No... Oh Father, oh Lord, increase our faith! Oh Lord, increase our faith!" All of those are before the resurrection. All of those classifications were before Jesus died because before Jesus died, none of them had the faith of God, so their faith was measured by their actions. But after Jesus died, today you have the faith of God. You have Christ in you who is the author and the finisher of faith. You have all of faith on your inside. Glory to God!

Galatians chapter 2 verse 16. Galatians chapter 2 verse number 16. Read for me, PJ.

Guest (Male): Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Dr. Abel Damina: So we are justified by the faith of Christ. By the faith of Christ. Therefore verse 20 now. Galatians 2:20.

Guest (Male): I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Dr. Abel Damina: I live by the faith of Jesus. I live by the faith of the Son of God. How did you become a child of God? By the faith that the gospel gives. So then, faith by hearing. And you don't hear twice; you hear only once. You believe once and from the moment you believe once, you are called a believer. So faith is not in measures. Faith is not in degrees. Faith is once and faith comes wholesome.

It is called the faith of God or the faith of Jesus or faith in the blood. That same faith that saved you is the same faith that becomes the basis for your authority. So it's not faith in measures.

So because you have the faith of God, the faith that God gives you already have it, you can now say to this "come", you say to that "go", you say to this "do this". The centurion said something basic about authority: it is what you say. Authority is in what you say. "I say to one come, he comes. I say to one go, he goes. I am a man under authority. You likewise, you are a man of authority. Speak the word only. Speak. Don't come. Your coming is not necessary since your words are available. Speak the word only."

Somebody is sick in Lagos, I'm in Uyo. I speak the word only. Take the phone to him, take the phone, take what? The phone to him, put the phone in his ear. What is his name? Jacob. Jacob, be healed! That's all. You don't need me physically. If I come, am I going to lie down with you on the bed? I'm still going to speak words. I don't need to go to America, I don't need to go to Japan to pray for somebody. You just take the phone to him, put the phone on his ears. What is his name? Cynthia is her name. Cynthia, in the name of Jesus, be healed! Somebody shout, "I am in authority!"

Say it again, "I am in authority!" Say, "I exercise authority by the use of my words. I say to one, come, he comes. I say to another, go, he goes. I say to another, do this, he does it." Glory to God! That's how we exercise authority. So you walk into a place where demons are making noise: "All of you, out of this place!" And they will gather themselves, align up out of the place. Not "Are you already going? No. Out!" He is out. I'm teaching good this morning.

"I have soldiers under me," the Centurion said. It shows how authority is used. So demons, Satan are under our feet. So we can say. "I have soldiers under me, I say and they do." Demons, Satan are under us, so we say and they do. Same with lust, same with affection. If I'm going to use the authority, I will say it. "And these signs shall follow them that believe in my name." The believing ones shall cast out devils. They shall cast out devils based on the authority that is available to the believer. Therefore, authority is practiced in words. Authority is practiced in words. Faith is using our authority. Faith is using our authority.

In Philemon chapter 1 verse 4 to 6, PJ, read for me. Philemon chapter 1 verse 4 to 6.

Guest (Male): I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

Dr. Abel Damina: Did you observe "hearing of your love" and "hearing of your faith which you have"? That's Philemon chapter 1 verse 4. "Hearing of your love..." Go back, uh-huh. "I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers." Next verse: "Hearing, hearing..." Verse 5. Who is on that computer that is not working with me? Philemon chapter 1 verse 5. Fermi, go to that place quickly and make sure whoever is sitting there is with us in this service. "Hearing of thy love and faith, which you have."

The believer is not faith-deficient and the believer is not love-deficient. "Hearing of your love and your faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all saints." You already have it. You're not praying for faith. You're not praying for love. At the point of salvation, the love of God is shed abroad in your heart. You are not love-deficient. You are God-sufficient. The love of God is in your heart, the faith of God is in your heart. Therefore, the communication of that faith—you already have faith, but what you need to pay attention to now is the communication of your faith, that that communication may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

Say with me, "I have love, I have faith." Say it very loud, "I have love, I have faith." Right now. Who we are in Christ, what we have in Christ, where we are seated in Christ. We have authority, we have love, we have faith. Amen! Getting blessed this morning? So take those facts in Christ and put in words. Take those facts in Christ and put them in words and say *to*. Say *to*.

If authority wasn't needed, it wouldn't have been given to you. Sometimes the devil will use things around us to say things to us, but be too assured of Jesus' intercession by his ascension to the right hand of the Father. All that Jesus has done is now a position and a possession, all that Jesus has done is now a position and a possession of the believer.

All that Jesus has done... The believer's authority is exercised in words. Jesus used authority from words in scripture. Therefore I am to use words in scripture and I am to use words in Christ. I am to use words in scripture and I am to use words in Christ. Remember we have established that the believer has been liberated from sin and death, right? Totally liberated. And this is the authority of Satan over man. The authority of Satan over man is sin and death. But the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set the believer free from the law of sin and death. So the believer is totally free from Satan and his authority. The believer is totally free. He has been translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of his dear Son. The believer is free from anything the devil is capable of doing. The believer is free from the hold of Satan because of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

The believer has redemption in Christ Jesus. We've been delivered—past—delivered, rescued from the authority of Satan. And we are now put into the rule of the authority of Jesus. So we reign with Jesus today. We reign with Jesus. "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, had quickened us together, raised us up together, made us sit together with Christ in the heavenlies."

So in the benefit of what Christ has done is our dominion over the devil and demons. In the benefit of what Christ has done is our dominion over the devil and demons. We were raised together with Jesus. We sit in him. We are sitting in Jesus in his authority over Satan and his angels. And this authority is not received by few; it's received by all of us.

And the glory of the work of Jesus, Paul calls it the inheritance of the saints, that the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling. The inheritance is the work of Jesus and we are the benefactors of this work. So Paul prayed that your authority, that your eyes be enlightened, that you will understand the full import of this authority.

The power that raised Jesus from the dead, the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe. That power is far above all principalities, powers, and might, and every name that is named, not only in this world but also in that which is to come. So all believers have access to the power of his resurrection because we're raised with Jesus. We are raised together with him.

You know, the nature of those benefits of Jesus' resurrection are spiritual. They are not natural things. The nature of the benefits of Jesus' resurrection are immaterial. They are not physical things. What Jesus obtained in his resurrection can only be accessed by those in him. A man that is not in Christ cannot access the things that Jesus obtained for us in his resurrection. He can't access it.

And that's why you cannot classify the believer by material wealth. No, it's an insult or a display of spiritual illiteracy. You can't classify a believer by material things because believers access it, non-believers access it, everybody has access to material things. I hope you know that God loves the world, not the church. I hope you know that God loves the world, not the church. Eh? Hello? God loves where? The world. So since God loves the world, not the church, he has to display his goodness to the world.

And the goodness of God to the world is all the material things he has provided. That's why it is accessed by all of us: food, shelter, money. Money, which is man's creation. I hope you know that money was not created by God. Hey, hey! Who created money? Men, as a means of exchange. There was a time it was not money, there was a time it was barter. Trade by barter. You have yam, I have palm oil, I need yam, you need palm oil, I give you palm oil, you give me yam. That's how—there was a time that's how we lived, because men invent how to operate.

So that's why when somebody says that your mark of spirituality is measured by your money, he doesn't know God. He doesn't know God. You can't know God and make such statements. You cannot know God and make such statements. No, no, no!

God loves the world. Whether you believe the gospel or not, God loves the world. And since God created the world and put man in the world, God is not an irresponsible being. He's a responsible God. He has to create the capabilities that enables man to live in this world. However, because man is selfish, when man has a privilege, he takes 50 people's measure for himself and those 50 people that are not privileged are improvised and marginalized, and that is what you call poverty. Say, "I hear."

Poverty is a state of marginalization by those who have advantage over those who don't have advantage. So that is why in a society government was created. One of the main reasons for government is for the equal distribution of resources, so that nobody is marginalized. Say, "I hear you."

So where government is working well, resources are distributed to make sure everybody is catered for. Say, "I hear." That's the whole essence of government. That's why the first thing a government that is a government indeed does is to first of all elevate the poor. Take care of those marginalized and downtrodden. That's the first thing government is supposed to do. Make sure the poor are at least given the basic necessities of life: where to sleep, what to eat, where to live. Basic. Basic. And when those things are provided, there will be no, there will be no, there will be no... what did they call that thing with placards? Protest! There'll be no protest because once people can eat and sleep and wake up and eat and sleep and be sure of food tomorrow, what are they protesting for?

But when the stomach starts speaking to you, you will protest without knowing when. You become a Protestant. So poverty is not an invention of God, neither is it an invention of Satan. Poverty is just a state that people find themselves in where they are not privileged, and then the privileged ones are oppressing the underprivileged ones. That's what creates poverty. That's what creates poverty.

There was an African ruler who affected his country so seriously, but was taken out by some people. Okay? He affected his country so well. I was told that everyone that was born in that country was paid a salary from the womb. Because they had too much gold. So they used their gold effectively to make sure that everybody in that country was paid a salary, whether you have a job or not. In fact, the moment your mother gets pregnant, the first week that pregnancy is confirmed, your salary starts going to the bank. When you are born, they have already saved the money for you, so you're born into an inheritance. Everybody in that country was given shelter, given food, given everything. The country was doing well. And then the president of that country began to think of how Africa can be united as one country, have one currency and back the currency by gold. And then some unseen powers took him out.

But one day, one day we shall be free. Glory to God! I say, glory to God! And if that day doesn't happen on earth, it will happen somewhere out of this life, when mortality puts on immortality. Glory to God! I'm preaching good this morning. Let him that has ears to hear. Abel Damina, what's your problem? Poverty is an invention of man. It's not an invention of God, neither is it an invention of Satan. It's just man. Man's greed, man's injustice.

And of course, man's illiteracy is also contributing. Because no matter how opportunities are available, if you don't have the skills, nobody will employ you. So it's not just dependent on lack of opportunity; it is also dependent on lack of skills. There are people that are not skilled; there's nothing you can do with them. The highest you can do for them is give them unskilled works. And even the unskilled works, some of them are not even unskilled in the unskilled works. It's a bad state. They are unskilled in the unskilled works. So there are some people you just cannot help. How many of you agree with me? You cannot just help them.

Even if you tell them, "Fetch water." As easy as fetching water it is: take bucket, fetch water and be bringing. Half of the water will pour on the road. Because that thing that made them unskilled is still inside them because a lizard cannot become an alligator by just change of environment. Huh? A lizard cannot become an alligator by change of environment. Is that true? A lizard will always... exactly. So there are some—what is bringing me to this poverty talk now?

The key thing here is that poverty is man-made. It's not God-made. You're not poor because God doesn't like you. You're not poor because Jesus will never visit you. You're not poor because Jesus never visited poor people. You understand? You're just poor because you're poor. Circumstances made you poor. But Jesus is a friend of the poor and a friend of the rich. He said, "When I was hungry, you visited me. When I was naked, you gave me clothes to wear." Is there not Jesus? So Jesus was naked, Jesus was hungry, Jesus was sick, and you visited me. And they shall say, "Oh Lord, when did we see you?" He said, "You did it to these my people." He called the poor "my brethren". You did it to the least of my brethren; you did it to me.

Glory to God! God loves man. Can I hear you say, "God loves man"? Say to your neighbor, "Don't be poor no matter what. No matter what, don't be poor. Develop skills, develop skills. Look for opportunities, seize opportunities. No matter what, don't be poor." There is no reward in heaven for the poor and the rich. There's no reward in heaven. If you're rich, good for you. If you're poor, good for you. It is you that will experience it on earth.

Otherwise, the rich man was in hell and the poor man Lazarus was in heaven. Huh? Who was in hell? And Jesus said it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Are you preaching poverty? No sir, I just said don't be poor, right? I said no matter what? Exactly. But Jesus said it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. But if you read clearly, what he was saying is it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a man that trusts riches, to trust riches. So if your trust is in riches, there's no way you can trust the living God. You cannot serve two masters.

Teaching good. Glory to God. Say, "I'm in authority here." Say it very loud, "I'm in authority." Can I hear you louder? "I'm in authority here." Ephesians chapter 1 verse 3 as I round up this service. Ephesians chapter 1 verse... but the Bible said Jesus said, "I'm anointed to preach the gospel to the poor." He said, "I'm anointed to preach the gospel to the poor," and he showed you who the poor are: brokenhearted. Those that are brokenhearted by sin, those that are in captivity by sin. Those are the people you call the poor, which means poverty there—the gospel to the poor is the gospel to men who are bound by sin.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings where?" "And where is the heavenlies?" "In Christ." The word "heavenly" is not materially tangible. So what we have been given to assert our dominion in Christ are not carnal things. The entities that we engage are not physical beings. We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers. So our fight is not with human beings.

So spiritual warfare is not in the physical. It is in the understanding of men. Spiritual warfare is in the understanding of men. So the warfare will be with mindsets, mindsets, thought patterns, and words. Words that raise itself in opposition to the supremacy of God's word. Words that raise itself in opposition to the supremacy of God's word. And these oppositions are via words, via words.

So the weapons of our warfare will be via words. They will be via words. Our words align with God's word and the power that is at work in us. Our words align with God's word and the power that is at work in us. So we asserted that the strongholds and imaginations are active in the minds of men. They are active in the minds of men. The defense and the armor of the believer today is the word of God. The defense and the armor of the believer today is the word of God.

So we believe in God's word and we believe that whatever we say comes to pass. Oh, glory to God! Whatever we say comes to pass. Whatever we say comes to pass. So if you're going to experience victory, number one: neither give place to the devil. Number two: resist the devil. Number three: stay stand fast in the faith. Stand fast in the faith. And our understanding refers to our consciousness. Our understanding refers to our consciousness.

And that's why we've got to give ourselves to the study of God's word, we have to give ourselves to meditating the word of God, we have to give ourselves to the renewing of our minds. You can't afford to play with the teaching of God's word in this house and you can't afford to play with your understanding of the word of God. The believer's mind must be renewed to think in line with the word of God. Your mind must be renewed to think in line with the word of God. Whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, think on these things.

So there are things you don't think on, so they don't become your consciousness. You don't think on—there are certain things you don't think on. So question: is sickness honest? Is sickness just? Is sickness pure? Is sickness lovely? Is sickness a good report? Is there virtue in sickness? Is there praise in sickness? So never think sick. Never. Never think of sickness and never, ever imagine yourself sick. Even when you are sick, see yourself healthy and speak health. You shall have what you say.

Think on these things. Don't give your mind to think on things that are not pure. "Whosoever looketh into the perfect law of liberty, he not being a forgetful hearer but a doer of the word, this man shall be blessed in all his deeds." Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. The word paralogizomai: acting beside yourself. Be doers. Somebody say, "I do the word." Say it again, "I do the word." Say, "I do the word." Say, "I am what the word says I am." Say, "I think on things that are pure, just, lovely, honest, of good report, of virtue, of praise. I think on these things."

Something can be lovely but is not pure, so don't think on it. For you to think on it, it must have all of it: it must be pure, honest, just, lovely, of virtue, of praise. It must have all of it. If it passes all that test, you think on it. If it doesn't pass all of that test, you keep it aside. Don't think about, "Maybe I'm not going to succeed, maybe I'm not going to make it." Don't think of such things. Don't think of such things. Think on the things that you have in Christ and think on the things that God sees of you. See yourself the way God sees you in Christ Jesus. Glory to God!

Say, "I see myself the way God sees me in Christ Jesus." Turn to your neighbor say, "Hey neighbor, I see you the way God sees you. I relate with you the way God relates with you, by faith, in love. Amen! Amen! Amen! I see you the way God sees you, Amen! And I speak of you the way God speaks of you." Some of you can't say that. Okay, let's try it. "I see you the way God sees you. I speak of you the way God speaks of you." Say that again, the last one. "I speak of you the way God speaks of you." If you don't speak of me the way God speaks of me, you're sinning.

You must speak of me anytime you're opportuned to speak, you must speak of me the way God speaks of me. You must corroborate what God has said. If you speak contrary about me of what God speaks of me, you're not corroborating what God says. I speak of you the way God speaks of you. How does God speak of you? He speaks of you highly. He speaks well of you. Even when you are acting low, he speaks well because God believes in what he has done in you in the resurrection. Glory to God! Can you stand up this morning, what a service. Amen!

I'd like you to walk to two, three people and tell them, "I speak of you the way God speaks of you. I see you the way God sees you. I speak of you the way God speaks of you. I will not speak low of you, I will speak highly of you. I have faith in you. You may not look it today, but if I keep speaking it, it will come to pass. Oh glory! You may not look it today, but if I keep speaking it, I will see it happen in your life. Glory to God! I say glory to God! I say glory to God!"

Somebody say it very loud, "I am the prophet of my life! So I prophesy. Every time I speak of me, I am prophesying. I prophesy concerning myself, and I shall see what I have said about myself. Glory to God! Glory to God! How does God function? God said, God said, God said, and God said, and God said, and God saw what he had said. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so."

You wake up every day and speak what you want to see and see what you spoke every day. That's how you exercise authority. And anything that does not look like what you expect, you say to it. You do what? Say to it: "You... no man hear of you anymore. You growth, you dry up now. You dry up now." That growth in the leg, I don't know who I'm talking to right now, I see a growth in that leg; that growth withers right now and proceeds no further in the name of Jesus! That growth withers. That growth withers.

I come against everything that does not look like what God has done in you, I command it to wither and dry up. Amen! Somebody say, "In the name of Jesus, contrary circumstances, cease in Jesus' name." I'm not hearing your Amen! Say, "I am exercising authority right now." Tell your neighbor, "When Jesus spoke, his disciples heard. Speak loud enough. Make sure I hear what you are saying."

Now say, "Circumstances and situations, in the name of Jesus, I bring you under subjection. I subdue you in the name of Jesus, and I command you to rearrange yourselves to favor me." Circumstances and situations, rearrange, rearrange, rearrange. I give you two minutes now, exercise authority. Open your mouth and exercise authority. Circumstances, situations of life, rearrange, rearrange, rearrange yourselves and favor me, favor me. Rearrange yourselves!

In the name of Jesus. Can I have a powerful Amen! Peter said to Jesus, "Master, carest thou not that we perish?" Jesus stood up and looked at the wind. He rebuked the wind: "Wind, cease! Peace, be still!" And there was a calm. And that same authority that rebuked the winds and the waves is the authority in you right now. Same authority. Tell your neighbor, "Don't talk about it. Talk to it. Don't talk about it. Talk to it. The authority to talk to it is in you, so talk to it. Speak to it." That is how to exercise authority. Glory to God!

Father, I pray for everybody under the sound of my voice, here in the building and all over the world connected right now. I declare wherever you're hearing the sound of my voice, whatever does not look like the finished work of Christ around your life, cease it now! It ceases now! Sickness, cease now! Infirmity, cease now! Demonic oppression, cease now! Demonic depression, break your holds now in the name of Jesus! Circumstances and situations, I command you to submit to the authority of the word of God. Peace, be still! Peace, peace, peace, peace. I come against harassment, I come against intimidation, I come against fear, I come against the voice of the devil. Shut up in the name of Jesus! Peace, be still!

Now receive direction, receive direction, receive solution, receive ideas, receive answers, receive ideas, receive answers, receive solutions in the name of Jesus! Thank you, Father. Your word never comes back void. You watch over your word to perform. And the Lord was working with them confirming his word with signs and wonders. Thank you, Lord. The victory is yours and you keep living in this victory all the days of your life. In Jesus' name we pray. And every believer says that Amen on a note of finality! Go ahead and celebrate your authority in Christ. Celebrate the victory that is yours. Is that how we celebrate the victory that is ours? Glory! Glory to God! Are you blessed this morning?

Grab your honor offerings, let's give and honor and worship God's—and just worship the word of God and worship what Christ has done. Glory to God! Glory to God! Online, the banking details are scrolling. Television, the banking details are scrolling on the TV stations where we are. Lift up your offerings, let's give this morning. Father, we thank you for the privilege to give, the privilege to fellowship, and the privilege to enjoy what Christ has provided to us, provided in us and made available to us.

Therefore based on all that you have taught us, we honor your word and we honor your grace and we honor the labor of your word in this ministry. And we're giving our offerings of honor and our offerings with joy this morning. And we thank you, Father, that our offerings are a sweet smell before you today. In Jesus' name we pray, and every believer says a powerful Amen! Glory!