"I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church. Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God. 1 John 1:9-11

Apostle John, the Apostle of love, complained that he was not received in a church because Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive the brethren, and puts them out of the church. It’s a fact that many dead churches are nothing but social clubs where people are made to adhere to a specific set of doctrines which is the first step of manipulation and control. One they have their fingers in you they can manipulate you anyway they want especially to take or use your money, talents and resources in the name of the Lord. It’s still thievery and witchcraft no matters who does it because they don’t have your best interests and don’t do everything in their power to see you healed, delivered, blessed, prospered and made whole. God’s word is unchanging:

And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD to the shepherds: "Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? "You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock. "The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them. "So they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered. "My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill; yes, My flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth, and no one was seeking or searching for them." Ezekiel 34:1-6

"Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:8

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1

You would think that Christians would be most powerful freedom loving people in the world who do good, seek justice, rebuke the oppressor, defend the fatherless, plead for the widow, heal the sick, and cast our demons as God has instructed them to do (Isaiah 1:17, Mark 16:17-18). Instead we find most Christians and their churches anemic, impotent, and in bondage holding the fort till Jesus comes instead of taking the land! Jesus promised and gave power to His disciples over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. Today’s Christians must not be the disciples of Jesus because they don’t have any power except to criticize, backbite, fight, complain, rebel, doubt and pout! Yet, whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith. For when we have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord and King by the faith God gave us, the victory now resides in us and God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask, or think. As God’s word is unchanging:

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height- to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21

It is a fact that according to the power that resides and works in us, God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think and give us one hundred percent victory, one hundred percent of the time, in one hundred percent of the situations. After all He is God, not man! It is also a fact that Jesus, now as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, is no longer poor or weak anymore as He was when He walked the earth as man. He is now once again unlimited in power, riches, strength and might. But the best news is that God wants to use all of His power, riches, and resources on our behalf and meet our needs: If we only will believe Him and trust Him to do it for us; If we will only humble ourselves and on a bent knee give Him our all and ask for His all. Then we shall know the truth of God’s word which states:

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Romans 8:37

“Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” (2 Corinthians 2:14) [Source: J. Melrose]