The goal and intentions of God for men on the earth

Welcome to „Daily Word for Spiritual Edification”! The issue we have been discussing during the past few devotionals is very important because it relates to the goal and intentions of God for men. We saw that Jesus came to restore in us the image and likeness of God, and also the original status that Adam lost due to the fall. Now we must believe all the things God has said about us in His Word and do what He has called us to do. That is where we will find the true fulfilment and life. After Jesus rose from the dead, the Bible said He sat at the right hand of God in heaven: 

« And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His 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 age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all » (Ephesians, 1:19-23).

 Further we read that God did not only raised Jesus from the dead, but He raise us with him as well: 

«And raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus» (Ephesians, 2:6).

 God resurrected us with Christ and also seated us with Him in the heavenly places. Heaven is the place from which Jesus rules and reigns over everything. What God says about us in His Word is the truth which we must believe. Now we have God’s nature in us and it must be continually fed and nurtured. We must believe that now we have heavenly authority and power that was given to us in order to destroy the works of devil on earth. That is what Jesus did when He walked on the planet earth: He destroyed and undo the works and intentions of the devil. He set an example for us to follow in His foot steps: 

«For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil» (1 John, 3:8b).

 In the Book of the Prophet Isaiah we read about Jesus’ mission on earth:

«The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified» (Isaiah, 61:1-3).

 Jesus knew His mission when He came here, so when He picked up the Holy Scriptures to read in the Synagogue at the beginning of His ministry on the earth, Jesus quoted the above Scripture. His words are recorded in Luke 4:18-19. Jesus precisely knew and understood His mission from God. When He appeared to Apostle Paul, He announced to him what he was supposed to be doing. Jesus’ assignment to Paul was to bring deliverance to all people from every type of oppression, restore God’s order and establish God’s righteousness and justice on earth: 

«I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me» (Acts, 26:17-18).

 The truth is that the future of our country, our cities and towns are in our hands. When we realize what God saved us for; when we realized that He has sent us and has given us authority and begin to exercise our authority to establish God’s righteousness and justice in prayer, then the healing and changes we crave for in our land we begin to manifest. God says in His Word: 

 «If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land» (2 Chronicles, 7:14).

 God promises to heal our land, if we will work to fulfil our mission and do what God expects of us. May God bless every one of us and help us to grasp this truth so that we can become effective in the area of our calling. Till tomorrow! Pastor Rufus Ajiboye