Month: April 2026

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The battle with sin

When we get saved,the Bible says that we are no longer under the control of the prince of the power of the air. We are delivered from darkness into the kingdom of the son of his love. We have the Holy Spirit and we have grace to live right. So why is there a culture of sinning among the saints?

When we get saved we receive a “fight” between us and what once enslaved us. We can resist or are called to resist what we once easily yielded to without question. We are called to pluck out our eyes when they cause us to sin or cut off our hand which causes us to sin. All this denotes a  severe confrontational uprooting of sin. We are not to take it lightly. Sometimes we battle with sin due to not being cognizant of the fact that we are cutting off the fruit which proceeds to rear its head instead of addressing the root.

The snare of sin

We communicate the dangers of sin and why we should not sin and we should. However, wholeness and inner healing should be spoken of equally. Our broken childhoods, unmet needs, wounds in our souls, fears, and hidden issues in our hearts make us susceptible and vulnerable to sin. We are a three part being namely spirit, soul and body thus, things  are not always as they seem. Consider the following illustrations;

-The command from the Lord is to not fornicate yet a man who has rejection issues coupled with idolatry falls prey to a counterfeit love interest who threatens to end the relationship unless they engage in sexual relations.They find themselves in a cycle of fornication due to not standing up for the truth and remaining single until the Lord sends them a Godfearing partner.This is a multi layered situation and conundrum which arises from being on the throne of our lives instead of giving that place to the Lord. The enemy’s wiles will possess greater sting and potency on such a one.  

-Gluttony thwarts the efforts of one who is overweight because they find comfort in food. Without addressing the emotional aspect of this dynamic they remain in a pool of defeat.

-The man who oversteps on his marriage due to soul ties they failed to break ahead of getting married.

The list is neverending. Our needs and brokenness give expression to sin in our lives not because we want to, but due to the fact that we are seeking to have our needs met. Unmet needs when not addressed and identified lead many on a voyage of bondage to sin. Many attempt to fast and be delivered from demons to no avail. Frustration accompanies many on their walk with the Lord not by virtue of a deficiency in effort but due to unresolved issues that lie behind the veil, maneuvering them with subtle tyranny like a puppeteer. Until the issue is addressed, bondage will persist. 

Mind renewal as a tool to overcome 

 We act according to what we believe. The dangers of not addressing issues in our lives and seeking healing from past or even present hurts is that they serve as data for our subconscious to utilize in order to “protect us” . Our minds and soul seek to protect us from threats and will ensure that we are faithfully acting according to the script it has for us. For instance, when we have a belief that no one can be trusted, we will act according to that belief by not trusting anyone. We need not exert much effort, the action will automatically align with that belief. We will even find ourselves sabotaging healthy relationships to remain faithful to the script in our minds. This is why the Lord tells us to renew our minds because we are wired to act according to what our minds believe. 

Conversely, we may have knowledge of the truth and still fall into sin! 

When this occurs, we are required to confront a lie we are believing. Lies lead to bondage which prohibits truth from being implanted in us. They cause us to come into agreement with the enemy, leading to a formation of strongholds. Effort is required to dismatle them. We have to apply the word repeatedly and implant truth that will take root.We do not put on new clothes without taking a shower or a bath first, yet many attempt to put on Christ without washing themselves with the water of the word. 

For those who are exposed to prophetic environments, the solution presented is mainly deliverance and prayer. However, that is a power encounter that will uproot the entity. Many experience deliverance only for bondage to return on their way home. The issue needs to be severed at the root. At times counselling is required to ensure long lasting freedom. When the root is unknown, deliverance is ministered and the person fills up with the Word in general and not according to how they were bound. This will lead to frustration. 

Sometimes, issues in our lives make it seem as though the weapons of the enemy are exceedingly potent when in actual fact, he just walked in on a situation that was compromised and precarious, giving him an advantage. He wins victories he should not be winning because he is after all a defeated foe. when two individuals, one who has a robust immune system and one who is immunosuppressed are exposed to the same germ, the former can walk away from that encounter unharmed while the latter can be hospitalized. It’s not that the germ suddenly increased its potency when it entered the immunocompromised individual. It is uncomplicated for the spirit of rejection to oppress an individual who has wounds of rejection. It is facile for self pity to oppress one who is compromised in this area with a victim mentality. Little is required to establish agreement and achieve torment. It is not that the spirit was vicious, but the battle was lost before it commenced.

Ultimately, many forgo the discomfort of freedom because of the solace they experience in bondage. The process of liberation often necessitates the agonizing severance of ties that, while  dear to us, serve as the life giving force to our confinement. When we are in love with our chains, we won’t seek to be free. The Israelites moaned concerning the manna. They longed for the fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic they ate in Egypt. They forgot that they cried out to the Lord to set them free and began to long for slavery when they were confronted with the price and challenges connected to their freedom. Unfortunately, this is the reality that some choose for themselves. 

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The ways of the Lord

Understanding the ways of the Lord is paramount. We sometimes pray to the Lord to alter our circumstance and when He does not move immediately, we are tempted to get weary. Hope deferred makes the heart sick. Sometimes the Lord has to move a couple of things around in order to answer our prayer. In Him moving these things, causing them to align, He is answering. We may be looking at one area and pouring our prayers and fasting into it and not witnessing any tangible change. However, the Lord does not think as we do. The best thing to do is to take a step back and notice ways in which He is moving, partner with that and trust Him. When the other parts have coalesced, He will then bring it to pass. We expect the Lord to do it now because we petitioned him. We did not factor in the wisdom of God. 

Sometimes, the Lord has to permit things to fall apart so that the correct ones can fall into place. 

When the Lord gave Joseph the dream concerning his brothers and father bowing before him, he was not privy to what it would take for its fulfilment. We think because God is sovereign, He should easily perform things at the blink of an eye. However, He does not operate that way. The Lord is patient. He is strategic. He is holy in His ways. God knew that his brothers would be tempted by jealousy and sell him as a slave. God in his sovereignty could have shielded him yet, His wisdom caused him to permit it to transpire. 

Recognizing that Joseph would face the profound temptations of bitterness and unforgiveness, the Lord utilized his victory over seduction to fortify his character. By honoring God in that moment of trial, Joseph made room for the Lord to commence a transformative work within his heart, preparing him emotionally and spiritually for the challenges of his future. This resulted in Joseph forgiving his brothers when circumstances beckoned for it. The Lord set him up for future obedience!

Furthermore, Joseph’s refusal to succumb to seduction, though occurring while he enjoyed success and private opportunity, demonstrates that spiritual foresight is forged through active integrity: ” you meant it for evil but God meant it for good” he uttered. Yes, the Holy Ghost is with us and Christ has been made unto us wisdom; however, certain issues require obedience in one season so that when the trap or snare comes in another season, the optics to see it have been developed. This is one way the Lord delivers us.

While the Lord’s goodness and mercy are universal, the manifestation of His power is often contingent upon active submission and obedience. The perception that some are “favorites” is a misconception; rather, these individuals have transitioned from passive expectation to an active partnership with His Word. Consequently, certain breakthroughs remain inaccessible through divine goodness alone, requiring a functional alignment with His requirements to alter long standing circumstances.

This is similar to what transpired to Abraham, the Lord foreknew that he was going to love his son more than Him. This is not an unusual occurrence when one has had to wait for a long duration for a breakthrough. They can easily fall into the sin of idolatry. Therefore the Lord had to prepare him ahead of time and fortify him to be able to obey Him and sacrifice his son when He asked him to.  How could he not have fallen into idolatry when he had to wait for 25 years for Isaac? 

Our circumstances at times set us up to fall into sin. The Lord knows this all too well and if we will be cognizant of this or hide ourselves in His Word, He will prepare us to overcome the temptation when it comes.

Additionally, when the Lord desires that we occupy certain spaces and platforms, He will prepare us for it. Unfortunately, some rush into it and while operating in that space, fall into sin. At times, this is due to the individual’s failure to submit to the preparation process of the Lord. The Lord is able to see the weaknesses in our flesh that will be awakened when we enter certain spaces of influence and He can uproot them ahead of time-if we will let Him.

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The Lord sees us

When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him. Do you want to be healed?( John 5:6)

The Lord was actually asking this man if he was willing to pay the price for good health. He was asking if he was willing to part with the sin that put him in the condition he was in.

Afterward, Jesus found the man at the temple and said to him, “See, you have been made well. This is what He said to him after he saw him in the temple, following healing him. Stop sinning, or something worse may happen to you.”(John 5:14)

The man did not comprehend this. The sick man answered, “Sir, I have no one here to put me in the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am trying to get in, somebody else gets there first. (John 5:7)

This man was disgruntled. His entire efforts of getting in the pool were thwarted. Pain and suffering has a tendency of making us selfish and self centered. Everyone at this pool was pursuing their own healing. This man was seeking assistance from individuals who were incapable of such a task which unveils his state of mind. The mind is designed such that when we hold a conscious or subconscious belief in our minds, to seek experiences congruent with that belief, establishing a form of confirmation bias and proving us right.Our minds will specifically tailor and seek out these experieces for us on the basis of our belief . Our beliefs set the stage for our experiences. Succinctly, you experience what you believe. Hence the Lord said all things are possible to him who believes. He was  goading us to believe correctly. 

 It did not dawn on this man that those present were likewise, invalids just as he was, yet he was offended by their lack of courtesy. His illness affected his judgment. The fact that he was expecting aid from these individuals indicated that he was entitled, blaming them evidenced a sense of self pity and pride. We cannot demand assistance from anyone, even when we are ill. This man sounded offended. 

The wounded soul

When we sin and remain impenitent, it gives the enemy a foothold and an opening. Consequently, he can attack us and that includes making us sick. Sin wounds the soul, giving the enemy legal grounds to attack. It is quite common for an internal soul-wound to give way to a physical ailment. Conversely, the trauma associated with a prolonged physical illness often results in the wounding of the soul.Of course, not all sickness is a consequence of sin. 

When an area of our lives is affected by sickness or otherwise, we are required to guard the other healthy areas.  

This mans circumstances necessitated  the Lord to make him whole.  Not only was he infirmed in his physical body, his perception and mindset required His healing touch. His soul was wounded. The Lord needed to empower him to stand on his own again and regain his independence. Hence, he told him to pick up his mat and walk. He did not offer to help him to get up. 

This man was at the pool just as everybody else due to it being the avenue that was provided for healing. Yet,this was not yielding the desired outcome. The Lord provided another way for him to attain freedom. 

Suffice it to say, sickness possesses the capacity to warp a person’s mindset and paradigm when precautionary measures are not exercised. Subsequently, more measures will be required to attain wellness and wholeness, as observed with this man who required wholeness and not healing alone. 

There is a story cited in Evangelist Diga Hernandez’s book, Carriers of the glory, becoming a friend of the Holy Spirit. He held a crusade with his unnamed prophet friend and a woman who looked utterly hopeless, wallowing in her illness was in the prayer line. He was ministering to one individual when he glanced at her. He then thought to himself that he will minister to her next. When he got to her and wanted to pray, the woman said she wanted to die. He wanted to pray for healing however the Holy Spirit halted him and said she required a prophetic word first. Diga does not possess the gift of prophecy so they went to his prophet friend who prophesied accurately to this woman. He told her everything that she revealed to Diga when they were conversing. Subsequently, Diga prayed for her and she was healed instantaneously. 

When this man was pursuing his healing and failing at every attempt, Jesus saw him. The Lord sees us in our struggles. He met him where he was. He did not give up thus the Lord created an alternative way for him. Nobody could assist him but God. We at times may despair due to people forsaking us . Yet, this story reminds us that even when others forsake us or their aid fails to alter our situation,as it was with this man who was brought to the pool only to fend for himself, the Lord remains able to intervene where our circumstance is impregnable. He can still make a way where there is ostensibly no way.