GOD WILL MAINTAIN YOUR RIGHT AND YOUR CAUSE

1 Corinthians 15:57

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Yesterday I ended on the note that when God has given you the victory, then your response is to praise Him and thank Him for what He has done. This perfectly is in order as you stand on the threshold of a new year, to end a year with the voice of thanksgiving and praise and at the same time to enter a new year with same. Not many can do that, but when you have received a word from the God, the maker of all things, that you have the victory already it would be sheer unbelief to still be wondering what the new year holds for you and be in anxiety. 

Philippians 4:6 says,

“Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition ( definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.” AMP

There is no need for anxiety anymore, there is no need for fear anymore. What is needed is faith, and faith will make a man praise God when you have received a word of assurance from God. This is what your praise and thanksgiving will make happen for you:

“I WILL praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will show forth (recount and tell aloud) all Your marvelous works and wonderful deeds! I will rejoice in You and be in high spirits; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High! 

When my enemies turned back, they stumbled and perished before You. For You have maintained my right and my cause; You sat on the throne judging righteously.” 

Psalms 9:1-4 AMP

GOD WILL MAINTAIN YOUR RIGHT AND YOUR CAUSE. ANOTHER TRANSLATION SAYS HE MAINTAINS YOUR LOT OR PORTION. GOD WILL MAINTAIN THAT WHICH IS YOURS IN THE NEW YEAR. THAT WHICH IS YOURS ANOTHER SHALL NOT TAKE.

THE REASON FOR YOUR VICTORY

1 Corinthians 15:57

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Do you know that right now you have the victory. Yes you have it. You see God speaks ahead of our lives and tells us what will be before things actually happen. What God wants me to tell you right now is that you have the victory and there is nothing to fear. I want to remind you of Jesus’s in John 16:33, the amplified translation:

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]”

This is the reason for your victory, everything  and everyone that comes against you in the new year has been deprived of the power to harm you. So you are in a “fixed” fight and your victory has already been given.  Your victory is by not man but by God almighty and there is nothing anyone can do about it. I feel a sense of victory in my heart today for you and I know it is God’s word for you at this moment. 

So what should be your response? The same way the children of...

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FAITH OF FEAR?

Mark 5:35-36

“While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.”

Faith or fear, which is reigning in your heart right now as you inch closer towards the new year. It is easy to know, the same way faith comes so also fear and they work by the same principles. These are diametrically opposite forces, that is why where

one is present the other is not.

Faith works this way: It comes by hearing the word of God and it is developed through meditating and acting on the word. It is released through the mouth – speaking. It actually begins where the will of God is known.

The beginning point of fear is uncertainty about God’s will. Fear will come to also by hearing, but hearing the word of satan or the world. It grows in the heart as the lies of the devil are meditated upon and it is released to work when you speak out your fears.

Lets us go back to our question: Faith or fear, which is reigning in your heart? What or who have you been listening to in preparing your heart towards the new year? If you have been listening to the news bulletin on the television or papers you will not have faith reigning in your heart but fear.  I want to encourage you to take God’s word and meditate on it, pray to God if you have not been doing so and watch your confidence level shoot up. 

As I have been pointing out to you for the past three days, God’s plan is to do you good and to give you a future and a hope. But you have a part to play in drawing it in. YOU MUST BELIEVE

SEEKING GOD

Jeremiah 29:11-14

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord…” NIV

The fourth thing that enables you not miss God is in what God said Himself in our text; “…You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I WILL BE FOUND OF YOU…” (emphasis mine). Did you see that?

There is no confusion, God said categorically you will find Him. I want you to know God is not hiding Himself from you His child. I once heard someone say that God hides Himself from people, that cannot be true according to His word. Hear Him:

“Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” John 15:15

How many things are made known to you from the Father? All things.

“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. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” John 16:13-15 KJV

Again, how many things of the Father has Jesus? And how many things of what Jesus has will the Spirit reveal to you? All.

I am saying all these to you so that you can have confidence that when you seek God to know His will for your life you get absolutely that and nothing less. You will not be left wondering whether you will know it or not. God said you will find Him, so just believe that seek His face. He might not...

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DISCOVERING GOD’S PLANS FOR YOUR LIFE

Jeremiah 29:11-14

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord…” NIV

We are still on discovering God’s plans for your life.

The third thing that enables you not to miss it in the goals you set for yourself in the new year is if you also engage in what David spoke about in Psalm 37:4-7 in the Message Bible Translation. I will call the step by step guide to walking with God.

“Keep company with God, get in on the best.

Open up before God, keep nothing back; he'll do whatever needs to be done:

He'll validate your life in the clear light of day and stamp you with approval at high noon.

Quiet down before God, be prayerful before him.

Don't bother with those who climb the ladder, who elbow their way to the top.”

Why is this important? It is because in setting goals for their lives, it could be out of a selfish ambition, or because you are comparing yourself with another. In the book of Habbakkuk, he says the vision you write down must be what He (God) has shown you (Hab 2:1-4). This means God must... 

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THE COMING YEAR

Jeremiah 29:11-14

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord…” NIV

The year will soon come to an end and right now there will be a flurry of activities both in the natural and spiritual, one thing that will be uppermost in people’s minds is what the new year holds for them. The other thing that you will going around is talk about goal setting for the incoming year. Let  me encourage you right now, you may not know in detail what tomorrow holds for you but one thing is sure about your tomorrow, it is GOD’S WILL THAT YOUR TOMORROW BE GOOD.

“For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” NLT

This is what the word of God says very clearly with no ambiguity. It is God’s will to prosper you, do you good and give you hope in your future. This is irrespective of what the economy of the nation is saying or what the devil or anyone is saying. You have to believe that, you have to put that as a baseline for your expectation for the incoming year.

Then the second thing that is necessary after you have accepted that base line is you know seek God’s face, that is, you now inquire from God so that He can break that general baseline into specific things for you. This is what will pass as God’s plans for your life. You see if you do not accept that baseline, what you might receive as God’s will...

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I PRAY FOR YOU THAT YOU BE FILLED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD’S WILL FOR YOUR LIFE IN ALL WISDOM AND SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING. YOU WILL NOT MISS GOD .

IT'S CHRISTMAS!

Matthew 2:1-2

 “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.”

Today is celebrated the world over as the day Jesus was born, it’s Chrstmas day! So we continue our faith lessons around one of the most significant events of the Christian calendar. Now let us not split heads over whether Jesus was actually born in September or not, that does nothing to our faith. The Magi saw a star, a special one and so they said they had seen His star. I see this star in two ways.

Firstly, I see it as the faith of the believer. This is because the star was an evidence that someone special is somewhere and the Scripture says it(the star) led them and rested where the child Jesus was. The Scripture says, “faith is the evidence of things hoped for…”, your faith is eveidence that that the real thing exists and it will take you to the real thing if you hold unto it tenaciously as the wise men followed the star diligently.

Secondly, you also are that star. We are to live our lives in such a way that other people are led to the Saviour.

“Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.” Daniel 12:3

When Jesus was born it required a literal star to lead men to the place of His birth. Now you the believer are His star that is supposed to lead men to where He is sitted to reign,  heaven. This you will accomplish by the way you live your life as His representative here on earth. It is therefore your responsibility on this earth whether people are being led to Jesus or not.

Therefore this day, as you celebrate consider this very important thing, are people being led to Jesus by your life or being led away from Him. Paul says;

“Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.” 2Corinthians 3:2,3

LESSONS OF FAITH

Matthew 2:1-2

 “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.”

Let us take more lessons of faith from the events surrounding the birth of Jesus. We use to have bumper stickers that read, “wise men still seek Jesus”. It is not just wise men that seek Jesus, it takes faith to seek God. These Magi or wise men saw a very special star and decided to follow that star not knowing where it will land them. Doesn’t this sound like Abraham?

“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.” Hebrews 11:8

As a child of God that steps out obeying God without anything concrete seemingly, understand that you are like those wise men following a star, but be assured at the end of the star is a king waiting to be  unveiled. But it is a journey of faith because it is a persuasion of the heart that takes you on this journey. 

The Scripture also says, “But without faith it is impossible to please the Lord, for he that cometh to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” IT TAKES FAITH TO SEEK GOD and to be diligent in seeking God. So I will say this it is not just wise men that seek God but men of faith and wisdom who seek God. 

For instance spending time every day before God in devotion at times may feel very dry but surely there is a reward at the end of the road for when you are consistent in doing a thing, there in lies the power.

“Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.” Prov 8:34 KJV

RIGHTEOUSNESS CONSCIOUSNESS

Romans 5:17

“For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.”

Let me show you today some things you will begin to enjoy when you become more righteousness conscious.

Firstly, you become more bold. The scriptures say the righteous are as bold as the lion. Boldness to come to the throne of grace and boldness to resist the devil comes from understanding that you are righteous.

Secondly, you will find also that your faith is strengthened. The Scripture says the righteousness which is of faith speaks. Faith comes by hearing and so when you begin to give voice to your faith, the stronger it gets.

Thirdly, you get more results in prayer. The Scripture says, “the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous avails much. Another Scripture says God’s ears are open to the prayer of the righteous.

Fourthly, the more righteousness conscious you get the less sin conscious you get and the more victory you get over sin.

Fifthly, righteousness is a

OBJECT OF REDEMPTION

Romans 5:17

“For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.”

We are still continuing our meditation on the above scripture. Someone said righteousness is the object of redemption. I cannot agree more, why? It is because by making us righteous God brought man back to the place where we have access into his presence and could fellowship with Him like Adam did in the garden of eden. 

You remember when sin came man began to hide from God, and that is what sin and sin consciousness is still making man to do today, hide from God. 

A man who is hiding from God does not know he has authority to act like God. When Adam had no sin, he did not think he had no capacity to name all the animals and birds when God asked him to. But today, sin makes people shy away from being what God  has made us to be. The first thing that comes to people is why they cannot. 

What I want you to know today that in being made righteous, God has given you full authority to be like Him. So from today develop a righteousness consciousness more and throw out of your life sin consciousness. Say it to yourself over and over again that YOU ARE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS, THAT RIGHT NOW, NO MATTER HOW YOU FEEL, YOU ARE RIGHTEOUS. 

The Scripture says in righteousness you shall be established, this is why the devil easily sweeps some believers off their feet. They are not strong in their revelation of righteousness, and so they are weak, their faith is weak. But the scripture also says, “awake to righteousness…”  So I tell you awake to righteousness.

UNDERSTANDING RIGHTEOUSNESS

Romans 5:17

“For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.”

One of the things that affect the faith life of God’s people is their understanding of righteousness or the lack of it. So let me help you gain some understanding today because when you do your faith walk will be stronger.

Firstly, it is to understand what it is. It is to have a right standing before God, which means being able to stand before the presence of God without any sense of guilt, condemnation or inferiority complex. That is, to stand before God as though sin never existed. You might ask who can stand like that? YOU! The reason you can do so is because God calls you so;

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” 2Corinthians 6:14

If God calls you righteous or righteousness then who are you to call yourself anything less than that. This means you can stand before the presence of God without any sense of sense.

Secondly, understand that righteousness is a gift from God to you at salvation. The day Jesus was made sin you were made righteous. It is not something you can work for or earn by good deeds, it is completely a gift from God to you so enjoy that gift.

Thirdly, which is an offshoot of the last point is, you... https://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_noss…  

FAITH IN GOD NEVER FAILS

Luke 2:21-30

“And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation…”KJV

We are still looking at lessons of faith from the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and the events surrounding His birth. Here is the story of a man called Simeon who the scriptures say had a word from God that he will not die until he sees the Messiah born.

The first lesson I want you to learn today is that faith in God never fails. The Scriptures do not tell us how old he was when he was given the word nor when the word finally came to pass. But at the time the promise came to pass he was in such a state that he could not wait one more day for death to come, he was longing to go. This tells us the promise took a long time in coming to pass but Simeon held on and saw the fulfillment of God’s word to Him. 

Listen, yes I know that the year is almost ending, but that does not bring an end to the efficacy of the word of God. The word is still alive and working, years may come and go, the word of God in your life will still be fulfilled. The word of God never fails.

“For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment.” Luke 1:37 (AMP)

The second lesson I want you to see in this text is that to see the manifestation of your faith you need to walk hand in hand with the Holy Spirit. Notice what the Scripture said concerning Simeon: “…. And he came by the Spirit into the temple…” He walked in to the manifestation of the promise he was given by the direction of the Holy Ghost. The reason some people loose out on the manifestation of the word of God in their lives is not because their faith did not bring forth, it was because they did not listen to the Holy Spirit. 

Faith in God is also faith in the... https://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_noss…  

I PROPHESY TO YOU TODAY THAT BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD YOU WILL BE LED INTO YOUR MANIFESTATION. YOUR EYES TODAY WILL SEE THE SALVATION OF THE LORD.

more lessons of faith

Matt 1:1-6

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;

Let us take some more lessons of faith from birth of Jesus today in consonance with the season we are in. Did you notice in the genealogy of Jesus Christ that there are at least four women mentioned whose background under normal circumstances would warrant that they be not included. 

You have Tamar or Thamar who slept with her father in law, then you have Rahab who was a harlot, Ruth who was a Moabite, someone who by reason of social class should not be included. Finally, you have Bathsheba, though not mentioned by name, with whom David committed adultery. What faith lesson is there in this I can hear someone ask. Well faith is a leveler. 

I believe it is their faith that brought them in to that picture.  You remember that Rahab was mentioned in Hebrews 11 as one of the heroes of faith, that same faith that qualified her there qualified her and the other ones to be in the genealogy of Christ. The Scripture says, “it is of faith that it might be by grace that the promise might be sure to all…” (Romans 4:16). 

Faith is a leveler. It does not matter what your background is, rich, poor, illiterate or educated, elite or not, when it comes to faith we all are on the same platform. By faith you also can dine and rub shoulders with the great because you too have become great yourself.

So as you look some people in their beautiful cars, fine houses and with the good things of life, say to yourself;... https://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_noss…  

WORSHIP

John 4:20-24

Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Worship has been defined as

1.              The reverence, honour and homage in thought and feeling or action paid to God, men or angels

2.              Evolved from “worthseipe’ a word which means to give worth to someone or something.

3.              To esteem the worth of and to make a suitable response to that worthiness- what is God worth in your life?

4.              It is the human response to a gracious God.

5.              It is the surrendering of our nature to him. It is the submission to His will and His purpose.

6.              It is the deeper than human emotion, the response of our spirit to that of God’s – an attitude of the mind.

7.              It is a loving attempt to pay our unpayable debt to God.

True worship is when men agree that God should not sit on the throne of the universe but also on the throne of their lives that is why worship is a matter of the heart.

Worship is not having a day off work, it is not religious singing of songs, it is the way you are and the way you live that counts to God. Worship is much more than what people’s mind has reduced it to- a location.

Your worship must guide your spirit in the pursuit of truth and the truth is in Jesus;  anything out from that is pure religion.

If your walk with God does not put a fire of desire , commitment and dedication to God in your heart , then you are a worshipper of Baal.

The most important thing God requires from us in our relationship and walk with Him is our worship, so we should give Him the wholesome worship He requires and deserves.

You cannot say you are a worshipper and it does not take something from you because

               Worship is obedience. Constant, continuous obedience to God Hebrews 11:8; Rom6:16 there is no worship without a life of obedience John9:31 you won’t have problems serving God if you are a worshipper.

               Worship is sacrificial – worship is costly; it will not always be convenient worshipping God – you must let go what you are holding on to.

               Offering is worship – let God be the judge of your offering, listen to God in giving; because it is an indication of what you think He is worth to you.

               You are a worshipper when indeed Jesus is Lord over your life

               If you are doing things for the sake of the glory of God you are worshipping Him.

               Mark 12:28-30 “And you shall love the Lord your God  out of and with your whole heart and out of and with your soul (your life) and out of and with all your mind (with your faculty of thought and your moral understanding) and out of and with all your strength. This is the principal first commandment”. This is WORSHIP! And worship is the highest expression of faith in God.

LOVE IS A DEBT YOU OWE

1Cor.13:1-3”Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge and though I have faith, so that I could remove mountains and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor and though I give my body to be burned and have not charity. It profiteth me nothing”.

For In Christ Jesus, neither circumcision availeth anything but faith that worketh by love. If love is absent you cannot enjoy overwhelming victories. Your faith can only work when it is accompanied by love.  If you are still working things outside of love you will not get the result you ought to get because it is love that hastens things, quickens things and put speed to things. When love is absent, you are slowing your life down.  God has done everything He will do for us, we are the ones to determine when or what will happen to us and at what time, and one of the things that determine this thing is this love walk.

Praying in tongues by the help of the Holy Ghost is one of the potent forces that a believer has in bringing victory to his life, but when it is done without love, it becomes noise making. That means the thing that is supposed to bring victory is not working because there is no love included. That is why you cannot debate whether you should love someone or not. Your life depends on it. You don’t have an alternative to walking in love and we really need to begin examining ourselves in these things so as not to hinder ourselves, delaying or stopping our victory.

How do I know there is love in me? When there is no unforgiveness abiding in you.  Whenever you go to prayer with unforgiveness in your heart, guess what? God hasn’t heard you. “If you bring your gift to the altar and knoweth that your brother has something against you, go and settle”

Mark 11; 24”...and when you stand praying forgive……”  If not you are kidding yourself.

From the text scriptures, it is possible to possess prophetic powers and still not love, though walking in the prophetic is part of the powers for this dispensation, it requires that you walk in love. A man walking in all these things is a man that is unstoppable by the devil but your lack of love will stop you. If you have all the gifts and have not love, you are nothing.

You can give all things, sacrifice your life for someone else but you have not gained anything if you do not love. , even though the way to prosper is by giving If you don’t have love you are still at the same spot, not enhanced, promoted , improved; nothing has happened to you and yet you may have just given your best  sacrifice.

These things can bring the most potent force in the life of a believer to a standstill where nothing is added to you in any way shape form or fashion, spiritually, materially. Let me ask you; Are you able to pray for a particular person?

Things are hidden in little ways in our heart and yet we say we are walking in love. When you  cannot confer blessing and welfare on someone, you have taken your case out of God’s hands and you are putting it in your own hands. Whoever has hurt you, deep down within you need to let go, forgive and love. Experience... https://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_noss…  

FELLOWSHIPPING TOGETHER - AN OUTFLOW OF LOVE

1John 1:7 “ But if ye walk in the light, as he is in the light , we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus  Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

1John 2:10”He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion for stumbling in him.” 

Heb. 10:24 “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:”

There is something that is inextricably linked to loving our brother and sister with the love of God. It is fellowshipping with our brother and sister.

“If we want to deal with God the right way we have to learn to love the right way. If we want to love the right way, we have to deal with God the right way. God and love can’t be separated! “[Introduction to epistles of John in the message bible]

The reason God and love cannot be separated is because God is Love. Let me rephrase that: God and loving our brother cannot be separated. Therefore loving our brother and fellowshipping with them cannot be separated. Therefore when we run away from fellowshipping it means

i.               We are in darkness or darkness is in us

ii.              Our love is not complete.

“But if we walk in the light (love), we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin”.

“But if we [really] are living and walking in the light, as He [Himself] is in the Light, we have [true unbroken] fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses (removes) us from all sin and guilt [keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestation”. (Amp)

Fellowship with God exhibits and proves itself by fellowship with other brethren. We are made to relate not only to God but also to others. “It is not good for the man to be alone…” ……..So God created man in His own image… male and female he created them “(Gen2:18; 1:27).

Created in God’s image-Humanity is called to reflect that image through male and female. Though this refers to the institution of marriage but the larger picture is that within the God-given joy of being unique individuals we can know what it is to be a true human being only in relation to others. Our relationships with our fellow human beings as well as with God have helped to make us who we are. “Those who do not feel they belong have no clear sense of identity”. (Selwyn Hughes EDN Jan/Feb 2011).  This is more so in the church.

“Those who do not have a church family they belong to are orphans “(Rick Warren); Mark 3:32 – 35.

“…Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee….Who is my mother, or my brethren? And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister and mother.’

•                Fellowship is what God uses to cleanse us from the sin nature – make us better and more complete believers

•                Fellowship gives us a clear sense of identity of belonging

•                Fellowship makes us alive in the spirit 1Jn3:23 -24; 4:12-13

•                When we are absent from fellowship we have the opportunity for love to be perfected in us. Heb. 10: 24,25

•                When we are absent from fellowship , we lose the opportunity for the outflow of good works

•                Togetherness in fellowship is the... https://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_noss…  

DO NOT BE AFRAID

Fear not but be strong- Rev.Ekine

Josh.1:5-9 “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

In this passage, Joshua was about to step into the shoes of Moses, he was faced with what seemed to be an uphill task of possessing the land for God’s people, but God comes and tells him as he faced the high walls of Jericho“…do not be afraid.” In the same way God is telling us not to be afraid, because He is with us.

Isa.8:11”Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. 

We shouldn’t allow the things we hear to frighten or dismay us because we have His word; this is the only thing that takes away fear. Then He says “…be strong,” once we are afraid we’ll not be strong.  What strengthens us is the same thing that will deal with the fear. We are not to be strong in ourselves but in God, because the strength of man will fail.

I Sam. 30 “And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.”  

There was a casting down experience in the camp of David, but David began to encourage himself, it was a time to be strong and not be discouraged. Whatever we see around us; be it adversity or casting down,it shall not touch us, but this depends on what we say when it happens around us, because “when men are casted down, thou shall say there is a lifting up”

2 Chr.20:2 “Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi.  And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. ”

Even though Jehoshaphat feared, he did not allow the fear to take a hold on him; instead he set himself to seek God. David also encouraged himself in God and enquired from the Lord.

Most likely, the first thing that we will feel when we see all these things happening around us is fear, but we should... https://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_noss…  

COVERED BY HIS LOVE - I'M PROTECTED.

Songs of Solomon 2:4 (amp)

“He brought me to the banqueting house, and His banner over me was love (for love waved as a protecting and comforting banner over my head when I was near Him).”

There is a lot fears right now hovering around in the atmosphere what with the incidence of bombing going on in the country and the attacks going on in some parts of the country. Added to this is the already prevalent issue of armed robbery attacks and the like.

All these however are in line with what the scriptures foretold:

“But understand this, that in the last days will come (set in) perilous times of great stress and trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear] 2Timothy3:1 (amp).

Though this is what the scripture say. Does it mean God’s children are left at the mercy of the elements or the devil? No absolutely not. You have been provided for by God. Your protection has been provided for in the covenant.

God has a covenant with you and I, a covenant based upon a better package (better promises). It is the covenant of His love. Take a look at our text again: “…His banner over me was love (for love waved as a protecting and comforting banner over my head when I was near Him).”

You are covered by His love and in that covering you are protected against all attack, all harms and all fears. Covered and protected by His love, no weapon formed against you shall prosper.

“In righteousness shall thou be established thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear and from terror (terrorists, terrorism); it shall not come near thee… No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement thou shalt condemn.”

This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me saith the Lord”.

Isaiah54:14, 17

Notice, that the scripture said, it is your being established in righteousness that makes that happen for you. Now before you start to think that depends on what you do, He says your righteousness is of Him, it is not of you or your works.

What brought you into that position? It was His love – waved as a banner over you.

“…Love is invincible facing danger and death… The fire of love stops at nothing, it sweeps everything before it. Flood waters cannot drown it out…” Songs of Solomon8:6-7

Since you are covered by this love, you are invincible facing danger and death. This is why a thousand can fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand but it will not come near you. Glory to God!

You are covered by His love and you are protected! Glory to God.

Have more faith in the... https://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_noss…  

FEAR NOT BUT BE STRONG

Josh.1:5-9 “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whither-soever thou goest.”

In this passage, Joshua was about to step into the shoes of Moses, he was faced with what seemed to be an uphill task of possessing the land for God’s people, but God comes and tells him as he faced the high walls of Jericho“…do not be afraid.” In the same way God is telling us not to be afraid, because He is with us.

Isa.8:11”Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. 

We shouldn’t allow the things we hear to frighten or dismay us because we have His word; this is the only thing that takes away fear. Then He says “…be strong,” once we are afraid we’ll not be strong.  What strengthens us is the same thing that will deal with the fear. We are not to be strong in ourselves but in God, because the strength of man will fail.

I Sam. 30 “And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.”  

There was a casting down experience in the camp of David, but David began to encourage himself, it was a time to be strong and not be discouraged. Whatever we see around us; be it adversity or casting down,it shall not touch us, but this depends on what we say when it happens around us, because “when men are casted down, thou shall say there is a lifting up”

2 Chr.20:2 “Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi.  And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. ”

Even though Jehoshaphat feared, he did not allow the fear to take a hold on him; instead he set himself to seek God. David also encouraged himself in God and enquired from the Lord.

Most likely, the first thing that we will feel when we see all these things happening around us is fear, but we should not dwell on it, but stay on what we know and be strengthened in God, as in... https://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_noss…  

CONFESSION: I SHALL NOT WALK IN FEAR BUT FAITH TODAY BECAUSE MY GOD HAS SAID HE WILL NEVER LEAVE ME NOR FORSAKE ME.

EXPERIENCING OVERWHELMING VICTORIES THROUGH OVERWHELMING LOVE - 2

Romans 12:21 “Be not overcome of evil but overcome evil with good”

We are continuing our meditation on the above text and theme.

God’s way is love, we can only have God’s kind of result if we do things God’s way, Love is the answer of God to the world.

Looking down through the ages, God has always answered through love. For instance, when man sinned against God in the Garden of Eden God killed a lamb and clothed their nakedness to cover man up. God does not answer tit-for –tat, an eye for an eye. His way is the way of love. You must choose to answer life with love. Unless we make this choice, things will become more and more difficult for us.

Brethren, you have been wired to respond in love, any other reaction will not bring victory. You have to train yourself to live this way. You must readily adjust yourself to love. The onus of this love walk is not on the other person but on you.

If God was supposed to respond any other way towards us, guess what? You and I will not be where we are today.

1Peter 2:18” Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear not only to the good and gentle but also to the forward….”

“Bless them that curse you, pray for them that despitefully use you” 

You must learn to leave your case in the hands of the one who judges fairly (God). The reason some of us don’t see God answer for us in our situation is because we have answered for ourselves. We have taken the matter into our own hands.

1Peter3:9 “Never return evil for evil or insult for insult…” when you do good, good comes back to you. Every single time you obey God on this, you always come out victorious, untouched, and unscratched.

There is big time winning waiting for you in this season we are in and you must ask yourself: Do you want to get it your way or God’s way? It’s only going to happen if you choose God’s way - the way of love. You have to determine and deliberately choose love.

Gal 5:6 “…for in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision availeth anything nor circumcision, but faith which worketh by love.”

The world’s way is not going to solve our problem. We believers had better wise up and start training ourselves the way of love. Paul says” …..I show you a more excellent way” (1Cor.12:31) . Faith with love is like having a turbo engine attached to your canoe as opposed to paddling a canoe manually. Folks, what should take you days may take a year without love. Walk the walk of faith through love.

You don’t kill your enemies, you love them. In loving them you remove the case from your hands and you put it in God’s hands. If we are going to have victory God’s way, we must learn God’s way. Stop relying on the arms of the flesh. Every other way apart from God’s way is the arm of flesh and by the flesh shall no man prevail. The Bible says we should be like Jesus that when he was reviled, He reviled not.

Love is not self seeking. We live in a self seeking generation. A selfish world that does things its own way.

 Let us overcome everything that’s not love by love and then see what God does with it.

You have to determine that this is where you are going; the result you want to see is of a greater price than what anyone can do to you.

Love is to unreservedly give yourself to another. If love stops then we know it’s not love at all. If love find barriers with a person’s peculiarity, looks or gifts then that love was merely an enchantment or lust.

Genuine love will never give up.

EXPERIENCE OVERWHELMING VICTORIES BY OVERWHELMING LOVE

Rom 12:21 “Be not overcome with evil but overcome evil with good’

The word overcome means ‘to get the better of’ it means to overwhelm, gain superiority or upper hand’

There is a way to overcome and overwhelm evil. God’s way is the way of love and it’s the winning way.

1Cor.13 tells us that “love can endure everything without weakening. Love never fails or fades out or comes to an end”.

How would you like to be on the side of something that never fails at all times? If you stay on the side of love you will always win, whether against the devil or human beings.

Natural human beings don’t have an answer to love. Please know that God is not punishing us by asking us to love our neighbours but rather He wants us to win all

the time. You hurt no one but yourself for not loving and you also put yourself at a disadvantage. Instead of doing tit-for-tat with a person who’s done you evil, you sputter the person with good. When you do that you will always win, because love never fails, never fades or becomes obsolete. There’s no weight that can crush love.

What gets us defeated is that we want to show the person doing evil to us that two can play the game. It’s your own responsibility not to let evil conquer you but conquer evil by always doing well. So, when evil is being thrown at you, you do good, that’s practical love.

You have to decide if God’s way is worth it or not and then make a decision. The worse the days get, the higher the demand for the walk of love, it’s the only antidote to this world. The flood of adversity cannot quench the force of love. No matter how fierce the opposition is, love will bring it to its knees. You want to have overwhelming victories, walk in love like you have never done.

We Christians do not seem to have problems loving unbelievers but believers, why? We think he/she should know better. We begin to reason things out. But reasoning is never spiritual, they are fleshly and canal. Stop using your own maturity to judge others. We must let God’s love flow from us. I must not have offence over people or walk in bitterness towards them; but rather overcome evil with love. Jesus says “pray for your enemies that you may be children of your farther who is in heaven”

Eph5:1 says “Be ye imitators of God as dear children”

There will always be opportunities for strife and contentions. It is not being weak to move away from situations that will cause strife and bitterness.  As you sense those things coming, you must choose the side of good rather than the side of strife.

1Peter 3:9 says “Never return evil for evil, insult for insult”.  It’s about time we start doing the word of God and stop allowing the flesh to get the better of us, as far as it depends on you live at peace with everyone, never avenge yourself but leave the place open for God. Be quiet says the Lord.

When I pay evil for evil, insult for insult, I have lost the right to take blessings from God. What will you rather lose? The blessing, happiness and protection of God or just that moment of showing flesh?

 The way to overwhelming victory is the way of love. Choose to love. Apply yourself to love. Let love get... https://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_noss…  

DO NOT BE OVERWHELMED

Philippians 4:6 (AMP)

“Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition ( definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.”

We are at the season of the year that there is a lot of activities both in the physical and in the realm of the spirit. It is also a period when there is a lot of anxiety in the hearts of people. This is why I want you to meditate on our text for today. You see you cannot be in faith and entertain anxiety or worry at the same time. Where faith is present, anxiety and worry take a flight out of the window and vice versa is also true.  

Our text for meditation says to not allow anxiety in your heart under any circumstance or over anything, this means God is saying to you He can meet you at the point of your need. 

So, rather than allow yourself to be overwhelmed by the many things you need to do or accomplish before this year ends, turn it over to God and rest in Him. 

The Scriptures say, “He is able to keep to the uttermost that which is committed to His hand” and also that “faithful is He who promised, who also will do it”. Lastly, Jesus said:

“So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.” MATTHEW 6:34 AMP

FAITH AS A SHIELD

Ephesians 6:16 (NIV)
“In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”

1 Tim 6:12-13 (NIV)“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

Taking a cue from our meditation some days ago where we saw that Jesus brought the use of faith to two main things, which were to get rid of stuff we don’t want and to bring in stuff we want, I want to point out to you today two other uses of faith.

From our first text for meditation, you can see that faith is used for defensive purposes because it is symbolized as a shield. A shield is for defending and the Scripture says if you have your faith in place you will not be hit by ANY fiery arrow thrown at you by the enemy. Yes, you heard me right, YOU WILL NOT BE HIT BY ANY ARROW OF THE DEVIL. I can hear someone asking, is that possible? Well let God be true and every man and every experience of man to the contrary a liar. 

The word of God said it, I didn’t say it. To use faith as a defensive weapon means you use it to protect or defend your territory and all that is therein. Put the shield of faith around you, your family, your business and all that is connected to you. Someone may ask, how can I do that? Through the words of your mouth because faith is expressed through words.

The other use of faith is offensive. Offensive is when you take the battle to the... https://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_noss…  

FAITH IS A MAN’S GRIP ON GOD

Luke 5:17-20
“And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.”

Where God’s word has been preached or taught, power is present. Where the Holy Spirit is also power of God is there. But you will notice that even though the power of God was present to heal, nobody got healed until someone came who had faith. Faith is what is used to take hold of the power of God to heal, deliver or prosper. So until a faith connection is made with the power of God, nothing happens even though the power of the Lord is present.

I believe this is why someone said that faith is a man’s grip on God, this is because faith is your hand in the realm of the spirit with which you take hold. The way you make the faith connection with the power of God is by speaking it with your mouth. This is what you see with the woman that had an issue of blood.(Mark 5:25)

The Scriptures said she kept on saying, “if I may but touch the hem of His garments, I shall be whole”. Then there was the case of Blind Bartimeus, who also shouted when he heard Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. I want you to know today that God’s power is... https://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_noss…  

THE USE OF FAITH

Mark 11:22-24

“And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.  Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”

It seemed like Jesus broke the use of faith down to two major things: Firstly, it is to get stuff you don’t want but are already in your life out, “…that whosoever shall say to this mountain, be thou removed…”. Secondly, it is to get stuff you want in, “…what things soever ye desire, when ye pray…” 

Some people will feel guilty that that is all their faith is for but there is nothing to be guilty about because these words came out of the lips of Jesus. Faith will get things out of your life, this means there is nothing that the enemy brings your way that you cannot get rid off. Be they bad habits, sin, sickness, failure, poverty and lack and it does not matter how long or complex such things have been, you can get rid of them. 

Now, it is interesting that when it comes to getting rid of things, Jesus said you should just speak to those things and they will obey you. Now when it comes to getting stuff that you want, whether they are spiritual material, physical or financial, Jesus said you should...https://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_noss…  

WHAT COMES NEXT TO OBEDIENCE?

Romans 4:12

“And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.”

One more thing on walking in the steps of the faith of Abraham. After righteousness has been established in the heart as the heart is changed and the fear of God is implanted in the heart, it enables obedience. Now look at what comes next to obedience:

“Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.” Hebrews 11:11 KJV

What comes next to obedience? You receive strength to do whatever you have been asked to do. But that is not how we want it, we want to receive strength first before we obey. But the word shows us that you have to step out in obedience first before you find the strength you need. When you understand that with God He counts willingness of the heart as though you have obeyed, then you will realize that firstly what God is looking for is that in your heart you have said yes.

“For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.” 2Corinthians 8:12

“Once the commitment is clear, you do what you can, not what you can't. The heart regulates the hands.” THE MESSAGE

This needs to be understood because once you understand it, it takes away the hesitation you feel in responding to the pull of the Spirit of God because you are thinking you don’t have the strength to carry it out.  The ability to do comes after the willingness of the heart to do. This is where faith comes in, faith is of the heart, so it is through faith you make your... https://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_noss…