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| Dr. D.K. Olukoya, Pastor Founder, Mountain of Fire & Miracles International Ministries |
It had become
increasingly difficult to come across Bible based messages in these days. A lot
of ministers major on the goodies of the gospel. They remove everything
pertaining to the cross from their messages. They, rather, prefer smooth
sermons and other things that will entertain their hearers; the message of the
cross has been relegated to the background. If you desire to hear the type of
sermon that Jesus preached, you have to look very far before you can find
the preacher who has both the message and the mind of Christ. That is how far
the situation has generated, and this should make us weep!
increasingly difficult to come across Bible based messages in these days. A lot
of ministers major on the goodies of the gospel. They remove everything
pertaining to the cross from their messages. They, rather, prefer smooth
sermons and other things that will entertain their hearers; the message of the
cross has been relegated to the background. If you desire to hear the type of
sermon that Jesus preached, you have to look very far before you can find
the preacher who has both the message and the mind of Christ. That is how far
the situation has generated, and this should make us weep!
There is no
other pathway to the heavenly city except through the way of the cross.
other pathway to the heavenly city except through the way of the cross.
We cannot become
fervent spiritually except we go back to the cross. No cross, No fire. To avoid
the way of the cross is to remain cold spiritually. Many people are looking for
Jesus where miracles are taking place. But here, I submit to you that you can
only find Jesus at the cross. He resides at the cross. You will never know what
it means to be hot spiritually, and burn with Holy Ghost fire, until you surrender all you have at the foot of
the cross. Beloved, the problem we have today is that the cross has been forgotten
and the flesh has been enthroned.
fervent spiritually except we go back to the cross. No cross, No fire. To avoid
the way of the cross is to remain cold spiritually. Many people are looking for
Jesus where miracles are taking place. But here, I submit to you that you can
only find Jesus at the cross. He resides at the cross. You will never know what
it means to be hot spiritually, and burn with Holy Ghost fire, until you surrender all you have at the foot of
the cross. Beloved, the problem we have today is that the cross has been forgotten
and the flesh has been enthroned.
The greatest
tragedy that mankind has ever known is the tragic error of putting the flesh on
the throne and celebrating the coronation of man’s untamed nature. What happens
when Mr.
flesh is on the throne? Your guess is as good as mine. But let us go
beyond what we can guess as human beings. How does God look at those who
deliberately decide to worship the flesh? How does God view those who are bent
on doing what they like and pleasing the dictates of the flesh?
tragedy that mankind has ever known is the tragic error of putting the flesh on
the throne and celebrating the coronation of man’s untamed nature. What happens
when Mr.
flesh is on the throne? Your guess is as good as mine. But let us go
beyond what we can guess as human beings. How does God look at those who
deliberately decide to worship the flesh? How does God view those who are bent
on doing what they like and pleasing the dictates of the flesh?
The word of God
has made it crystal clear that the flesh is totally useless in the sight of
God. No amount of white-washing can make it acceptable to God. The Bible says,
has made it crystal clear that the flesh is totally useless in the sight of
God. No amount of white-washing can make it acceptable to God. The Bible says,
“If any man
would come after me, let him deny himself, let him carry his cross daily and
follow after me” (Luke 9:23).
would come after me, let him deny himself, let him carry his cross daily and
follow after me” (Luke 9:23).
This passage
tells us, without mincing words, that without the cross there is no
Christianity. There is no possibility of living the Christian life that is
approved before the Almighty without carrying your cross. For you to continue
to experience abundant life, you must first carry your cross, deny yourself and
follow Jesus. You must do these daily, and follow Jesus all the way.
tells us, without mincing words, that without the cross there is no
Christianity. There is no possibility of living the Christian life that is
approved before the Almighty without carrying your cross. For you to continue
to experience abundant life, you must first carry your cross, deny yourself and
follow Jesus. You must do these daily, and follow Jesus all the way.
In a nutshell,
to deny yourself, means, to say no to your flesh. Whenever it demands for carnal
pleasures, sinful actions, and when all forms of things that violate God’s word
raise their ugly heads.
to deny yourself, means, to say no to your flesh. Whenever it demands for carnal
pleasures, sinful actions, and when all forms of things that violate God’s word
raise their ugly heads.
We must echo the
prayer of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane when He said, “Not my will, but Thy will be
done”. But how many of us are ready to say that today? It is easy to say
that we have given our lives to Christ but the qualities of our decision will
come out at the time of trial. We can only ascertain if you have truly
surrendered your WILL to God when you come face to face with the practical life
situations. What will you do if you have to make a choice between doing the
will of God and getting financial gain?
Won’t you opt for financial gain?
prayer of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane when He said, “Not my will, but Thy will be
done”. But how many of us are ready to say that today? It is easy to say
that we have given our lives to Christ but the qualities of our decision will
come out at the time of trial. We can only ascertain if you have truly
surrendered your WILL to God when you come face to face with the practical life
situations. What will you do if you have to make a choice between doing the
will of God and getting financial gain?
Won’t you opt for financial gain?
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| Dr. D.K. Olukoya….A super deliverance minister…. |
The Sister & her confused faith in Christ Jesus…
I remember a
sister who claimed that she had surrendered her will to God, and went ahead to
pray that God should reveal to her whom He wanted her to get married to. God
showed her in a vision, a brother who was blind in one eye. Immediately she
woke up, she began to argue and cancel the vision saying that God could never
have revealed the one-eyed man to her as her future husband, next she began to
pray telling God the kind of man she would like to get married to.
sister who claimed that she had surrendered her will to God, and went ahead to
pray that God should reveal to her whom He wanted her to get married to. God
showed her in a vision, a brother who was blind in one eye. Immediately she
woke up, she began to argue and cancel the vision saying that God could never
have revealed the one-eyed man to her as her future husband, next she began to
pray telling God the kind of man she would like to get married to.
That shows that
she was only ready to do her own will and not the will of God. Yet, those who
want to deny themselves and take up their cross, will simply say, “Lord as a human being I would not make this
type of choice, but I am ready to do your will. You know what is best for me.
Let thy will be done” It is only after you have denied yourself, that you
can go ahead to take up your cross and follow Jesus. A man who is truly ready
to deny himself would neither be ashamed of taking up the cross nor reluctant
to do so.
she was only ready to do her own will and not the will of God. Yet, those who
want to deny themselves and take up their cross, will simply say, “Lord as a human being I would not make this
type of choice, but I am ready to do your will. You know what is best for me.
Let thy will be done” It is only after you have denied yourself, that you
can go ahead to take up your cross and follow Jesus. A man who is truly ready
to deny himself would neither be ashamed of taking up the cross nor reluctant
to do so.
A cross is not beautiful to behold!
A cross is not
fashionable, rather it is old fashioned. The cross of Jesus therefore is the
old fashioned cross. One song writer has
described it as, “The old rugged cross”
fashionable, rather it is old fashioned. The cross of Jesus therefore is the
old fashioned cross. One song writer has
described it as, “The old rugged cross”
What is the
cross? The cross is the place where God’s will crosses yours. We can then, say,
that we are carrying our cross, when we drop our own Will and lift up the will of
God as our only choice. To accept the cross is to decide to align yourself with
the will of God. The cross is a place of execution
cross? The cross is the place where God’s will crosses yours. We can then, say,
that we are carrying our cross, when we drop our own Will and lift up the will of
God as our only choice. To accept the cross is to decide to align yourself with
the will of God. The cross is a place of execution
In the sixth
verse of the sixth chapter of the book of Romans,
we are told that, “Our old man is crucified with Him”. “What
the Bible is saying is that, the rebellious sinful nature which we inherited
from Adam must be dealt with through crucifixion.
verse of the sixth chapter of the book of Romans,
we are told that, “Our old man is crucified with Him”. “What
the Bible is saying is that, the rebellious sinful nature which we inherited
from Adam must be dealt with through crucifixion.
God had that, as
the only solution for the flesh. Without Crucifixion, the problem of the flesh
cannot be solved. Deliverance does not remove the problem of the flesh. If you
go through deliverance a thousand and one times, but fail to deal with your
flesh and carnal nature, you will always have spiritual problems. You cannot
cast the flesh. You can only cast out evil spirit.
the only solution for the flesh. Without Crucifixion, the problem of the flesh
cannot be solved. Deliverance does not remove the problem of the flesh. If you
go through deliverance a thousand and one times, but fail to deal with your
flesh and carnal nature, you will always have spiritual problems. You cannot
cast the flesh. You can only cast out evil spirit.
A lot of people
think that they can bribe God by going through deliverance. Those who fall into
terrible sins and keep on running to attend deliverance programmes without taking
a sober look at their lives, and dealing a decisive blow on the flesh, are only
wasting their time. The only scriptural method for dealing with the flesh is to
crucify it. God does not send Mr. Flesh to the Sunday school or
Bible College. Neither does He send the flesh to a seminar on “How to improve your self-image”.
think that they can bribe God by going through deliverance. Those who fall into
terrible sins and keep on running to attend deliverance programmes without taking
a sober look at their lives, and dealing a decisive blow on the flesh, are only
wasting their time. The only scriptural method for dealing with the flesh is to
crucify it. God does not send Mr. Flesh to the Sunday school or
Bible College. Neither does He send the flesh to a seminar on “How to improve your self-image”.
God’s solution
to the nagging problems of the flesh is simple and final-execution. The flesh
must be given a mortal blow.
to the nagging problems of the flesh is simple and final-execution. The flesh
must be given a mortal blow.
The good news of
the gospel, then, is that the execution of the flesh took place some 2000 years
ago, when Jesus was on the cross. Our old man was crucified with him. it is a
historical fact.
the gospel, then, is that the execution of the flesh took place some 2000 years
ago, when Jesus was on the cross. Our old man was crucified with him. it is a
historical fact.
More than that,
it is a spiritual fact. It is true, whether we believe it or not. The only
thing is that we cannot benefit from it until we come into practical terms with
the call of crucifixion. The flesh detests crucifixion, yet it has to be
buried..
it is a spiritual fact. It is true, whether we believe it or not. The only
thing is that we cannot benefit from it until we come into practical terms with
the call of crucifixion. The flesh detests crucifixion, yet it has to be
buried..
God has made
three provisions to rescue man from the grip of sin and the flesh.
three provisions to rescue man from the grip of sin and the flesh.
One, He has to
deal with our sins- all the sinful acts which we have carried out.
deal with our sins- all the sinful acts which we have carried out.
Two, He has to
deal with the corrupt nature- that thing in us which makes us to go on
committing sin.
deal with the corrupt nature- that thing in us which makes us to go on
committing sin.
Three, God has
to replace our old man with a new one. So we can see that God’s solution for
completely delivering us from the powers and shackles of sin, is to deal with
our total spiritual needs. This is where people get stuck.
to replace our old man with a new one. So we can see that God’s solution for
completely delivering us from the powers and shackles of sin, is to deal with
our total spiritual needs. This is where people get stuck.
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| Dr. D.K. Olukoya…..’We must deal with our flesh before God deals with us’ |
How does God deal with our sin?
Through
forgiveness. When you commit a sin, He forgives you. However, if He shows you
what is bad and you stubbornly go ahead to commit the sin, with the decision
that you are ready to damn the consequences, then there is no repentance and
there is no forgiveness. You will receive your stripes complete from God. You
knew that it was wrong and you went ahead to do evil. But for the things you do
ignorantly and you are truly repentant of, you will be forgiven.
forgiveness. When you commit a sin, He forgives you. However, if He shows you
what is bad and you stubbornly go ahead to commit the sin, with the decision
that you are ready to damn the consequences, then there is no repentance and
there is no forgiveness. You will receive your stripes complete from God. You
knew that it was wrong and you went ahead to do evil. But for the things you do
ignorantly and you are truly repentant of, you will be forgiven.
God has to deal
with our corrupt nature which makes us to continue to commit sin. God’s
provision for this problem is for you to allow Him to put the sinful nature to
death. How then will God replace the old man with the new man? How will God
give you a heart transplant? The Bible says, that “Ye put off concerning the
former conversation, the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful
lust and be renewed in the spirit of your mind. And that ye put on the new man
which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
with our corrupt nature which makes us to continue to commit sin. God’s
provision for this problem is for you to allow Him to put the sinful nature to
death. How then will God replace the old man with the new man? How will God
give you a heart transplant? The Bible says, that “Ye put off concerning the
former conversation, the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful
lust and be renewed in the spirit of your mind. And that ye put on the new man
which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
There is no
short cut to receiving the power of God. You must put off the old man and put
on the new man. When that takes place in your life, people will notice glaring
changes. You will become a brand new man or woman. Until your friends and
acquaintances notice the change in your life, you cannot claim that you have
had an encounter with Christ. When you have an encounter with Christ,
unbelievers will either complain about or commend your life.
short cut to receiving the power of God. You must put off the old man and put
on the new man. When that takes place in your life, people will notice glaring
changes. You will become a brand new man or woman. Until your friends and
acquaintances notice the change in your life, you cannot claim that you have
had an encounter with Christ. When you have an encounter with Christ,
unbelievers will either complain about or commend your life.
Beloved, don’t
assume that the old man will passively accept crucifixion. Never allow it to
cross your mind that the flesh will accept the sentence of execution without
any argument. On the contrary, the flesh will struggle, fight, kick, and rebel
against any attempt to get it executed. That is why Apostle Paul warned in Galatians 3:3 that you must put the flesh
to death, so that he does not regain control over you. It will always struggle
to gain control over you.
assume that the old man will passively accept crucifixion. Never allow it to
cross your mind that the flesh will accept the sentence of execution without
any argument. On the contrary, the flesh will struggle, fight, kick, and rebel
against any attempt to get it executed. That is why Apostle Paul warned in Galatians 3:3 that you must put the flesh
to death, so that he does not regain control over you. It will always struggle
to gain control over you.
Hence, many
Christians have not come into the understanding of the Divine provision. They
have therefore kept the deliverance ministers busy. They claim that their sins
have been forgiven only to go back to those sins, running an evil cycle. Today
they are forgiven, tomorrow they commit another sin. Such a life style leaves
much to be desired. They are yet to experience freedom from the power of the
fallen human nature.
Christians have not come into the understanding of the Divine provision. They
have therefore kept the deliverance ministers busy. They claim that their sins
have been forgiven only to go back to those sins, running an evil cycle. Today
they are forgiven, tomorrow they commit another sin. Such a life style leaves
much to be desired. They are yet to experience freedom from the power of the
fallen human nature.
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| Dr. D.K. Olukoya, Author ‘Overpowering Witchcraft’ |
A lot of people
go about saying they are sanctified. But how can a sanctified man make a wife a
punching bag? How can those who say they are holy be the same group of people
who tell lies, steal money and fight with everyone around? Sanctified indeed!
Sometimes, the so called sanctified man comes back to say, “Sorry I have lost my sanctification. How can I regain it?” That is
not the question. You should arrange to execute the old man. Why don’t you look
inward at this moment and take a personal inventory in order to ascertain your
standing with God?.
go about saying they are sanctified. But how can a sanctified man make a wife a
punching bag? How can those who say they are holy be the same group of people
who tell lies, steal money and fight with everyone around? Sanctified indeed!
Sometimes, the so called sanctified man comes back to say, “Sorry I have lost my sanctification. How can I regain it?” That is
not the question. You should arrange to execute the old man. Why don’t you look
inward at this moment and take a personal inventory in order to ascertain your
standing with God?.
Are you
completely free from the shackles of the flesh?
completely free from the shackles of the flesh?
Are you
completely free from the domination of Mr. Flesh?
completely free from the domination of Mr. Flesh?
Can you say that
you now put on the new man? Can you personally echo the word of an old song
writer, “The thing I used to do I do them
no more?”
you now put on the new man? Can you personally echo the word of an old song
writer, “The thing I used to do I do them
no more?”
The death of the
flesh makes it impossible for witchcraft as the works of the flesh, to operate
in our lives
flesh makes it impossible for witchcraft as the works of the flesh, to operate
in our lives
(Excerpts from the book ‘Overpowering Witchcraft’ by Dr. D.K. Olukoya, Founder/General
Overseer, Mountain of Fire &
Miracles Ministries International)
Overseer, Mountain of Fire &
Miracles Ministries International)
