WE HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED FOR DOMINION LIFE
WE HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED FOR DOMINION LIFE
The word equip means to supply with something necessary in order to carry out a specific action or task; to provide with (e.g. weapons, provisions, munitions,
Exo 14:8-16 KJV 8 And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand. 9 But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon. 10 And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD. 11 And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? 12 Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. 13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more for ever. 14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. 15 And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: 16 But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.
The text we read is about the exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt after 430years of captivity. After this encounter whatever has held anyone will let loose by fire in Jesus name. The Egyptians and Pharaoh their king experienced first hand the mighty hand of God and they let go in a hurry the people of God. After this encounter every Egyptian taskmaster shall perish by fir in Jesus name.
When they got to the red sea, the Egyptians’ army had started pursuing them to either destroy them in the wilderness or bring them captive back into Egypt. That was the mandate and assignment of the enemy. The assignment and the agenda of the devil shall fail in your life in Jesus name.
The children of Israel were afraid and they started crying. It was understandable. They felt free and looked forward to long life freedom, more so they had spoiled the Egyptians of their golds and properties. Now the Egyptians are back to take them, they were afraid and started abusing Moses. They queried him on why he didn’t leave them in Egypt to continue suffering rather than to come and die in the wilderness. The red sea was in the front and the army of Egyptians at the back, there was nowhere to run to. There were no boats or ships that could ferry them across to the other side. They were stranded right there. That yoke that has stranded any life is broken today in Jesus name.
Moses was confused too. This was not the plan God told him. He was to take them to the promised land. He did not know what to do. He too started crying and praying unto God. Now the Bible didn’t render any of his prayers to us, most probably he was sighing, groaning and interceding in his heart. But God who is able to do exceeding abundantly above what we ask or think answered Moses.
I was expecting God to encourage Moses and comfort him and possibly identify with him. But I was shocked with the answer that God gave.
Exo 14:15 KJV And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:
God was asking him why he was crying unto Him. Question: What was he supposed to do? Who was he supposed to cry to in the first place? To make matters worse, God told him to tell the children of Israel to go forward. How? With what?
Why will God queried Moses at this instant? I began to meditate and find out what message God was trying to pass across to Moses. In verse 16, I saw a clue.
Exo 14:16 KJV But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.
God was expecting Moses to do something about the situation they found themselves in rather than sit down and start crying or praying. There was time for prayer but at this junction it was time for action. This is the reason why God was mad at Moses for crying and paying.
God had already anticipated this kind of situation and had equipped Moses ahead of it. The solution was with Moses right there.. What was it? It was the rod. In that verse 16, God told him to take the rod. Why the rod?
Let’s go back to the origin of the rod.
When Moses had an encounter with God at the burning bush in Ex 4, that same rod was dropped and it became a serpent.
Exo 4:2-3 KJV 2 And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. 3 And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.
God gave a special message regarding that rod later.
Exo 4:17 KJV And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.
It was with this rod when he came to the pharaoh. He dropped it on the floor and it became a serpent. The Egyptians magicians dropped theirs and they turned to serpents, but power passed power the rod of Moses swallowed their rods. Every power of magicians shall be swallowed up in Jesus name. That day the Egyptians magicians lost their magical rods, every equipment and rods of the wicked shall be swallowed up by fire in Jesus name.
Exo 7:10-12 KJV 10 And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent. 11 Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. 12 For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.
In Exo 7: 19 the rod caused the water of the Nile to turn to blood.
In Exo 8: 5 the rod brought frogs to fill the land of Egypt
In Ex 8: 16, the rod brought lice from the dust
In Ex 9: 23, the rod brought thunder, fire and hail over Egypt
In Ex 10:13 the rod brought locust over the land of Egypt.
These were the exploits that the rod had done so on this occasion, God did not expect Moses to start crying and praying but use what has been commissioned unto him and what he had used to do signs before now. I can understand why God was querying him.
So what happened when Moses used the equipment God gave to him? The red sea parted into two and they walked on dry ground.
Exo 14:21 KJV And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
What is standing as a red sea before you shall part by fire in Jesus name. Whatever will not let you go shall go down for you.
Do you know that many Christians are like Moses. We cry unto God at every given opportunity. We shed tears most probably from the deep hurt, pain and evil that we are experiencing. But Most times God is not moved by the pity party we are engaged in. He had pity on us 2000 years ago when he sent Jesus. Jesus became our high priest. Look at what the Bible says about him.
Heb 4:15 KJV For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
The Lord did not allow the disciples to engage in anything until they were equipped.
Luk 24:49 KJV And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
The word endued means to be clothed. in order words He told them to wait until they were clothed with power which will equip them for the task ahead
Act 1:4-5 KJV 4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
In Act 2, they received the much awaited baptism and one of the pieces of evidence was with the boldness that Peter, who was terrified by a maid a few days ago, now preached the gospel.
Act 2:4 KJV And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
So now God expects us to take actions against our red seas. The reason is we have been equipped even much more than Moses. Moses had only the rod but what we have far exceeds what he had and with it he did signs and wonders. Moses had the rod but under the new covenant we have Jesus as our rod.
Isa 11:1 KJV And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
If you ask me, I will give a synopsis of other equipment that we have been equipped with.
THE NAME OF JESUS
Phi 2:9-10 KJV 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Luk 10:17 KJV And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
HOLY SPIRIT
Joh 16:13 KJV Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
THE WORD OF GOD
Act 19:20 KJV So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
FAITH
1Jn 5:4 KJV For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
SPEAKING IN TONGUES
1Co 14:2-4 KJV 2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. 3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
ANOINTING
1Jn 2:20 KJV But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
1Jn 2:27 KJV But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
2Co 1:21 KJV Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT
1Co 12:7 KJV But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
Gal 5:22-23 KJV 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
PRAYER
Jas 5:13 KJV Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
ARMOUR OF GOD
Eph 6:13 KJV Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
GRACE
2Co 12:9 KJV And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
WISDOM
1Co 1:30 KJV But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
GOD HIMSELF
Joh 14:23 KJV Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
1Jn 3:24 KJV And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
These and more are the things He has equipped us with so that we can help ourselves and help others. With these we can dispense God to others. But Christians have been taught to cry unto God. They talked like Moses, the battle is the Lord. The Lord shall fight for you. Under the New Covenant if you talk like that, Satan is going to turn you to ping pong. It was okay for Moses to say those things because they were not born again, Christ has not come and the devil has not been defeated. They didn’t have authority over the devil and God had to do certain things for them.
But now that Jesus has come and gone, He is sitting at the right hand of the Father waiting till all His enemies will be submitted by the Church. God will fight but will fight through you. The battle is yours now to enforce the victory that Jesus won 2000 years over situation and circumstances and the devil. It is time to exercise faith and authority. With authority comes responsibility. Heaven is waiting on us.
In fact heaven holds us responsible for things that happen. I give you a case study of Elisha in 2KIng 6
2Ki 6:30-33 KJV 30 And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he rent his clothes; and he passed by upon the wall, and the people looked, and, behold, he had sackcloth within upon his flesh. 31 Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day. 32 But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him; and the king sent a man from before him: but ere the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, See ye how this son of a murderer hath sent to take away mine head? look, when the messenger cometh, shut the door, and hold him fast at the door: is not the sound of his master’s feet behind him? 33 And while he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger came down unto him: and he said, Behold, this evil is of the LORD; what should I wait for the LORD any longer?
There had been a siege over Samaria and the siege was so strong that there was no import or export of goods. A siege is a confinement, an enclosure. Nothing comes in and nothing goes out. Every power that besieges anyone here shall perish by fire in Jesus name.
Wherever there is a siege, there is always famine. May the yoke of famine be broken over you in Jesus name.
A great famine was in the city, people were dying of hunger. It was so bad that they were eating donkey excreta. The one that broke the camel’s back was when two women agreed to kill their children. One outsmarted the other and the victim came talking to the king. That was when the king made the statement that Elisha shall be killed.
2Ki 6:31 KJV Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day.
But why? Elisha was not the cause of the siege, he too was affected. Why will the king accuse Elisha and send a messenger to kill him? The reason is because Elisha was the prophet in the land, he was the spiritual father of the land. He took over from Elijah and he had done outstanding miracles that surpass Elijah’s own. As far as the king is concerned, Elisha has the ability and capability to do something about the siege. He had told the king to wait but things were not getting better so the king held him responsible.
Do you know what happened in verse 32, Elisha told the people to bolt the doors so that they will not come in and cut off his head. The king followed the servant and that was when Elisha began to prophesy as recorded in Chapter 7 that by that time tomorrow there will be abundance.
2Ki 7:1 KJV Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.
Why did Elisha have to wait until he was threatened to be killed before he started speaking forth the word of God? He had been equipped. He had the ability. If he had spoken earlier the two women would not have agreed to kill their children.
Many Christians don’t know their spiritual positions and positioning in Christ. They don’t know that they have become spiritual gatekeepers, territorial commanders and Principals over their compounds, streets and city. With authority comes responsibility. But we act like spiritually immature folks. We are already seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
Under the New Covenant, use what you have to help yourself and help others. Peter has a good word for us. Instead of crying unto God like Moses, God expects us to use all that He has given to us against the red seas of life.
1Pe 4:10-11 KJV 10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
He says let him do it.
One of the few things that can really help is for Christians to stop asking God to do what He asked them to do. For instance he asked us to resist the devil Jam 4: 7, then Christians will start asking God to help them resist the devil or cast out the devil. It is for us to stop acting as if we don’t have anything. Pauls says the communications of your faith become effectual by the acknowledging of the good things in you in Christ Jesus Phil 1: 6. Another thing is trying to appease or appeal to God to do what is not consistent with His character and reveal will.
HOW DO YOU ACHIEVE THIS?
The Bible says build up yourself on your most holy faith by speaking in tongues.
Jud 1:20 KJV But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
1Cor 14:4 KJV He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
Paul told Timothy to stir up the gift of God in him 2Tim 1: 6
2Ti 1:6 KJV Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
Make this confession: The ability of God is functioning in me. I am full of God. I am full of the Holy Ghost and power. I can do all things. The power of God is in me. I am anointed. I carry fire. I am too loaded to be stranded in life.
Maybe you too need to start prophesying against the famine and the siege of the devil around you, family, jobs, ministry and business. Command the siege to be over in Jesus name. Command abundance to come in. Let the period of famine be gone in Jesus name. Command the bonds of the devil to be broken. Pull down the yoke of the devil over your life and destiny. Prophesy change around your life and destiny. Command the good things to manifest.
Jer 1:10 KJV See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.