This power is not for angels, it is not for people in the world or anyone or anything else, ONLY for us who BELIEVE!

When Moses brought the people of Israel out of Egypt he had a staff which wrought great and miraculous acts but now we have something much greater than Moses’ staff (Exodus 7:8+; 14:16), we have the enormous, immeasurable, incomparable power that raised Christ from the dead (Ephesians 1:19b)-21).

The amazing fact is that this victory was not accomplished for heavens benefit but rather for OUR benefit! God didn’t need to establish his authority over the world or the devil as he is the creator of the world and as we know, the created object cannot be greater than its creator. Also, his authority over the devil was accomplished at the beginning when Satan was tossed out of God’s presence (Isaiah 14:12-15). Christ was raised from the dead and lifted into the heavenlies not to ‘establish’ heavens power but to ‘establish’ power for US who BELIEVE in Christ! We know this because he tells us in Ephesians 1:22 that God has accomplished all this and given us this power for the church, not the building, not the denomination but to the people of God. He has given this power to us who believe (Ephesians 1:19). If you believe in Christ, then this power IS YOURS!

So no matter what you are going through, not matter what is going on in your life, you need to understand, believe and know that God’s immeasurable and incomparably great power is yours in accordance with God’s will for your life. Why struggle in your own strength when you have at your figure tips this limitless power from the heavenlies? If you believe that God raised Christ from the grave, this power is at your disposal to call upon and possess in any situation.

Have a ‘God’ day

Pastor David Holt (MTh)

Colossians 1:9-11 tells us that the mighty power of God, the same power that raised Christ from the dead, is available right now to strengthen us who believe to accomplish all that lies in God’s purpose for our life. We can do all that God wants for us to do and have been called to do, no matter what that may be, according to God’s mighty power.

This power can demonstrated in many ways through our lives and as we read in Hebrews 11:32-37 it is a power that not only brings miracles and release but also peace and comfort in the midst of suffering and persecution. We often think of this power outworking in a miracle, but sometimes it may not be a miracle of release but a miracle in allowing us to suffer for Christ with great joy (James 1:2-4)

This week, not matter what it is that you are relying on God’s power for, do not be disheartened or discouraged if a miracle of release doesn’t occur because maybe God is teaching you about patience, endurance and peace in the midst of your situation. Remember, God is always with you no matter the situation (Hebrews 13:5)

Have a ‘God’ day

Pastor David Holt (MTh)

1)      Israel’s exodus from Egypt:

Before Christ’s resurrection, if the people wanted to demonstrate God’s power they would remind themselves of Israel’s exodus from Egypt. The measure of divine ability in the Old Testament was “according to” Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. God used Moses’ staff in order to demonstrate His power, whether turning his staff into a snake, bringing a plague, dividing the Red Sea, bringing water from a rock, etc, God’s power was demonstrated through these amazing events.

2)      Christ’s resurrection and ascension:

This is the new standard of demonstrating God’s power today, the resurrection and ascension of Christ from the grave to the heavenlies. There is no greater example of God’s immeasurable and incomparable power than this. The manifestation of God’s power in the former time was great but now it is immeasurably great and with no comparison!

If that is the comparison, then what is the contrast of effectiveness between the old and the new:

a)      The first or old was a physical deliverance from temporal bondage; the second or new is a spiritual freedom from eternal death.

b)      The first gave national freedom, the second created salvation for the entire human race

c)      The first offered Israel an earthly inheritance and national wealth, the second opened to all who believe the unlimited storehouse of God’s power for salvation and an eternal kingdom in the heavenies.

Today, we live in an unprecedented time of the limitless power of God that is available to all who believe. This power is not temporal like the demonstration of God’s power in the Old Testament but is eternal. This week, instead of struggling with our circumstances, situations and problems, let us realise God’s immeasurable and incomparable power that God has given to all of us who believe and allow God to work in our lives and provide a miracle!

Have a ‘God’ day

Pastor David Holt (MTh)

This power is the same power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Christ at the right hand of God, and this power is ours!

Ephesians 1:16-20

 When we read this prayer of Paul’s we notice three things:

1) Paul did not ask for God to give them power

2) He prayed they may know the greatness of God’s power in the heavenlies

3) That this power was already their possession and their entitlement

But what is this power and where did it come from?

Paul tells us two things about this power. He tells us that it is:

1)      Immeasurable – Christian’s should not fear that this power is insufficient or inadequate to meet any need or difficulty that should arise

2)      According to  - The NKJV tells us that His power is “according to the working of His mighty power”. This means that His power is according to a great demonstration of the might of God.

The power available to each Christian is “according to the working of the limitless strength that God demonstrated in raising Christ from the dead”

So, that extraordinary strength, that immeasurable power that we own as our possession and entitlement in the heavenlies, is the same in character, force and effect as that which freed the crucified Christ from the bonds of death and raised Him in glory to the heavenlies, and it is available to you and me as children of the Living God!

Have a ‘God’ day

Pastor David Holt (MTh)

1)      Revelation:

We need to have a revelation in our own lives and spirits to realise that these promises are not future promises but rather they are present possessions! Our eyes need to be opened to this in order to take hold of it. The problem is that we find it hard to accept this for ourselves. The reason for this is that these things are spiritually perceived, not just mentally. Paul says in Romans 10:8-10 With the heart a person believes. It has to get from our mind to your heart. That’s why Paul said in Ephesians 1:18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened. If they could be perceived by the mind then our heart is not required, but we need to understand them spiritually, in our heart and believe they are for us NOW! We need that inner revelation of the truth.

2)      Release:

If revelation is the first key to unlock our spiritual blessings in the heavenly realms, then ‘release’ of faith is the second.

These treasures will stop being potential possessions when we accept them by faith and become actual possessions. However, it is not like you exercise your faith and God drops down this truck load of blessing. We need to acquire them as and when we need them. At the time that you require a spiritual blessing, we need to release our faith and accept from God a spiritual blessing to meet a required need. And we need to be specific, not general. Faith possess its possessions; faith rejoices in the provision God has already made; faith shouts with great joy Ephesians 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Anyone born of God sits in the heavenly realms now; all of God’s treasures are at our disposal today; every need that we have has already been met in Christ at this time! All we have to do is to believe what Christ has done for us and accept the abundance of Christ in the heavenly realms for us and live in that victory today!

Have a ‘God’ day

Pastor David Holt (MTh)

Ephesians 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

This is NOT a promise, it is actually a statement of FACT! GOD HAS already blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms through Christ. Also, it is not just ‘A’ blessing but EVERY spiritual blessing! We need to understand what supply this statement indicates; its limitless treasure to us in Christ. ALL spiritual blessings; ALL the good things you have ever longed for and prayed for; ALL the blessing the human heart could desire; ALL the riches of glory and ALL the stores of earth; are ALL ours in the heavenly realms. All we need to do is have faith that we have received them already and walk in that fact. These spiritual blessings as Ephesians 1 states, comprise: A blameless and holy life (vs 4); Destiny as the sons of God (vs 5-6); Redemption and forgiveness (vs 7-8); Knowledge of the plan of God (vs 9-10); Freedom to live for God’s glory (vs 11-12);  The promise of the Holy Spirit (vs 13); A guaranteed inheritance (vs 14).

Then Paul sums it all up in verses 18-20 where he talks about three words that embrace every spiritual blessing God has given to us in the heavenly realms. These words are Hope – For our future secure in Christ; we have a destiny, a kingdom, rewards in heaven; Riches – Of pardon, grace, healing, life, supply of every need; Power – Immeasurable great power, over the kingdom of darkness, over the principalities and powers of evil, over sin, over the world’s opposition, over death and over the gates of hell.

These spiritual blessings are ours now, all we have to do is accept our position in the heavenly realms now and claim these spiritual blessings today. They are ours; God has given them to us as a free gift in Christ; Accept them and walk in victory and blessing today!

Ephesians 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Ephesians 2:6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.

There is a firm spiritual law which is ‘Faith must precede practise’. Christians don’t live victoriously because we reverse this law; we put practise before faith. We ‘DO’ Christian things hoping that will build our faith instead of having faith and then doing what we are meant to do. This law is as constant as natural law. Faith must always come before practise. In other words, before we can behave like a child of God, we must believe that we are a child of God!

If you have given your life to Christ, do you believe that you are a child of God. If so, then you must also believe that you already sit in the heavenly realms Ephesians 1:3. What we need to know is what does “In The Heavenly Realms” mean? No one is actually sure what this strange expression really means, although we know it describes a spiritual dimension in which we have right to access the abundant heavenly blessings through faith in Christ. In this dimension, God has placed all the treasures of salvation, every spiritual blessing is located here in abundance, whatever we need from God, whatever God wants to give, is placed here, in the heavenly realms, and they have YOUR name engraved on them! Once we understand that we are in the heavenly realms today, then victory, joy and an abundance of blessings are ours to enjoy.

Are you seated in the heavenly realms with Christ today? If so, then all the abundance of heaven is at your disposal, all you have to do is take your authority in Christ, claim your blessing and victory, and walk in faith declaring it. It is yours; It is your right as a child of God; The blessings of God are at your disposal; Claim them in Jesus name and walk in victory today!

Have a ‘God’ day,

Pastor David Holt (MTh)

However, if we do fall short or overcome by sin at any given moment, we still need to keep our conscience peaceful before the Lord as we strive to sustain this quality of righteousness. Why do we need to keep our conscience clean? Because God cannot hear the prayer of a sinner or one that is not found to have faith in Him. (John 9:31) If we continue to live a life contrary to the things of God, not living according to his will for us, then we cannot expect anything from God. The only prayer God can hear is the prayer of a righteous man; a man who understands his sinful state, repents before God and endeavours to walk accordingly. (1 John 1:5-9; 2:1-2) We will all stumble from time to time because none of us are perfect, but we need to endeavour, desire and strive to walk conscience free before the Lord. God cannot and will not bless the unrighteous, he can and will only bless the righteous whom are found in Christ!

Today, let us see ourselves as righteous, blessed and live a righteous life in Christ. The righteous person of God is dead to sin but is alive in God. (Romans 6:11) Sin no longer reigns but life in Christ Jesus reigns. We don’t live by the standards of this world but the standards of God, which has deemed us to be found righteous through Christ.

Have a ‘God’ day

Pastor David Holt (MTh)

In saying this, there is little point in God counting us as righteous if we don’t count ourselves righteous through our faith in Christ. There is little point in God justifying us apart from works if we refuse to believe ourselves justified apart from works. So how do I count myself as righteous before the God of creation? To start, we draw a debit and credit column; add up all our debit column, then in the credit column we just simply write the word Jesus! Then in the total we write “all debt paid in full through Christ”.

As Dr Ken Chant (Vision Christian College) says, “Who am I? What do I deserve from God?” The answer is: “I am the righteousness of God in Christ apart from any works of mine and I deserve everything from God!” This is the righteousness as bold as a lion, one that can approach the throne of grace; one that gives us authority and power over the devil, this is the boldness that allows us to say “I am the righteousness of God in Christ”

Have a ‘God’ day,

Pastor David Holt (MTh)

Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion

Righteousness is the difference between courage and cowardice, faith and fear, defeat and victory. Although this is talking about the wicked fleeing, so often it is the Christian who flees, even though they should be the righteous. This is simply because their conscience has made them a coward; their conscience tends to rise up to accuse, condemn and remind them that they are filthy rotten sinners, who are not worthy of God’s riches and blessings upon our lives. Why? Because of our former sinful deeds! Shakespeare once said “Conscience makes cowards of us all”. That very thing that should be our friend and turn us away from sin and lead us into a greater and closer relationship with God, becomes our enemy. 

So then, what is righteousness? Well, there are two kinds of righteousness – Visible and invisible

a)      Visible righteousness: Is righteousness which is the product of our works, good deeds, noble acts that we do and hopefully you are committed to them. (James 2:26b)

b)     Invisible righteousness: This is the quality of righteousness imputed or credited to us by God through Jesus Christ. Even though we need to be committed to doing good works daily, we need to be less reliant on our own righteous acts and more reliant on God’s right doing for us in Christ.

Romans 4:1-25

The marvellous thing here is that God is willing to look upon us as righteous even though we are not because of Christ and our faith in him. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, God has found a way to reckon you and me righteous and he does that apart from our works.

It is unbelievable to realise that God justifies the ungodly and the guilty. God could only do that because he found sufficient satisfaction in Jesus’ death and resurrection for the offended law in heaven by mankind. The penalty for our sin has been paid; justice has been satisfied; the demands of the law have been avenged and so God, through the death and resurrection of Jesus, is able to justify the ungodly and make that which was unrighteous, righteous, apart from our works or good deeds.

Is that amazing or what? In 2014, don’t be a Christian who flees when no one pursues, but rather be as bold as a lion, not allowing your conscience of past failures stop you from being all you can be in God.

Have a ‘God’ day,

Pastor David Holt (MTh)