By Stephen Wolemonwu
“Rejoice greatly, Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 10: I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the warhorses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. 11: As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit. 12: Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you,” (Zechariah 9:9-12).
Yearly, Christians, especially the Anglicans, all over the world celebrate the Palm Sunday in the Christian tradition. This marks the beginning of the Holy week and the Sunday before Easter; commemorating Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. It is also known as Passion Sunday, celebrated in many churches with the blessing and procession of palms (leaves of the date palm or twigs from locally available trees).
The Palm Sunday carries in it, Christ Dominion and kingship. Everyone desires to be on top; most human quest is for political, economic, social, religious or academic dominance. People desire to be the lyrics on every lip and the picture on every billboard; in every sphere of human existence, you see the struggle to gain and retain the top position, but the irony of life is that nothing; Yes! Nothing lasts forever. Wealth is made and left for the tenth generation, but that also does not last forever. Sometimes that, which you have accumulated as a sure security for your descendants and dependants end up becoming their battle drum.
Psalm 24:1, says: “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.” God possesses exclusive power over the earth and the fullness therein; this power and authority cut across the physical and spiritual realm; it is a power that is retainable to all eternity and shared among those who believe in Christ Jesus not for selfish earthly dominance and acquisition of materialism and selfish aggrandisement, but for God’s glory, praise and expansion of God’s kingdom.
John 1:12, says: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” The word ‘demon’ refers to kings, kingdom, thrones, forces, and powers — past, present and future. Every earthly throne and kingdom separated from godly standard and guidance comes under satanic rule, leadership and control.
“Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, all these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me,” Matthew 4:8-9. KJV. The Devil and the evil forces through political, religious, social, economic or cultural platforms may promise someone dominance, in exchange for loyalty, their souls, submission and absolute control of their wills and decision. This most times is clothed in deception with promises that come with certain level of blindfold that even the smartest of man may fall prey.
The strongest deceptive channels of the devil include: men, literature, social media platforms, cults and organisation. The Bible exposed to us the true intent of their schemes and nature in John 8:42-45, as the devil is. So are those who follow his ways: a thief, a liar – the father of it; there is no truth at all in whatever that is presented, even that which seems true and real is with an ulterior motive to kill, to steal and to destroy (John 10:10).
The imprisonment: “As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit. Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you. (Zechariah 9:11-12). There is a prison because there are prisoners; a prison without anyone in it is either an empty cell or a warehouse. The devil through several deceptive channels has enslaved the souls of men, especially the youths of our time; the concept of ‘hussle’ has captivated the generation that so many do not see the danger coated with appealing promises and insatiable desire for wealth and more wealth, especially as it has to do with creating wealth for unborn generations. Destinies, morality, godliness, family and cultural values, including humanity are sacrificed in this monstrous alter.
Isaiah 49:24-26, says: “Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? But thus saith the Lord, even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children. And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I the Lord, am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.”
There are those who are lawfully in captivity, but if they had known all the deception clothed with the promises they would have fled for their future sake.
The freedom: “As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit,” Zechariah 9:11; “And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.” Hebrews 12:24.
Through the blood of Jesus Christ anyone can be freed, irrespective of the depth of the imprisonment or covenant entered. The blood carries in it healing balm for the sick, repealing power against demons and evil forces, cleansing ingredient for the unclean, chain breaking fluid for the captive, blessed ointment for the oppressed; it is a washing agent for sinners.
The Blood redeems — Revelation 5:9, “And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; For You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.”
The blood makes clean — Revelation 7:14, “And I said to him, “Sir, you know” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
• The Ven. Stephen Wolemonwu is Rector,Ibru International Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor.
