EVENTS

19 hours ago

THE JOY OF THE LORD

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.” Isa. 12: 2-3

In the world today, many look for things that will calm their troubled minds down. They go to beer parlours, night clubs, friends etc to find temporary relief to their life perplexing problems. But as believers, we cannot afford to think or act like the world. Remember, we are instructed not to be conformed to this world. (Rom. 12:2). A clearer translation states “Do not allow this world to squeeze you into its own mould”

When thoughts of confusion, frustration and hopelessness bombard your mind, learn to draw from the strength that is within you. The joy of the Lord is your strength (Neh. 8:10). This joy is not a function of what happens around you, it rather springs from God’s eternal salvation that is within you. David caught a glimpse of this reality when he said “restore unto me the joy of thy salvation” (Ps. 51:12). David, a king under the Old Covenant sought for this joy. However the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus bought this joy and it is now an eternal substance in us! We don’t look for joy, we have it already within us. It is our nature! (Gal. 5:22).

So with the joy of the Lord we draw from the wells of salvation . If this joy became a reality within us by salvation, it only stands to reason that the joy can only be about salvation. There is a big difference between happiness and the joy of the Lord. Happiness is a response of a man’s emotion to the good or positive things that are happening around him. Joy is the response of the renewed mind of a believer to the realities of salvation within him. Happiness is related to physical things. Joy is connected to spiritual realities! Jesus told his disciples not to rejoice because demons were subject to them in His Name, but rather that their names were written in heaven! Lk 10:20. We rejoice about spiritual and eternal things. It is this type of joy lasts forever! Apostle Paul instructed us to “rejoice evermore” (1 Thess. 5:16)

Hence, we rejoice because we have forgiveness of sins! We rejoice because we have eternal life! We rejoice because we are new creation! We rejoice in the fact that God’s Spirit dwells within us! We rejoice because we have eternal home in heaven!

Jump on your feet and rejoice today! You are more than a conqueror through Him that loves you! ... See MoreSee Less

4 days ago

YOU SHALL HAVE WHAT YOU SAY

I didn’t cook up those six words, they fell from the mouth of the Master Himself.

“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” (Mk. 11:23).

Jesus said these words in response to the observation His disciples made about a fig tree he had spoken to a day earlier. His words were “No man eat fruit of thee hereafter and forever” The tree withered away from its roots. Then He challenged them to “Have faith in God” or “Have the faith of God” What He meant by that was that they should operate their faith same way God operates His. He pointed at a physical mountain and taught them a valuable lesson “whosoever says to this mountain, be removed and cast into the sea, and he will not be double minded about it which simply means he believes in his heart exactly what he says with his mouth, he shall have whatsoever he says” Our words which are products of our conviction can move mountains!

I heard a story of a woman who chose to believe these words of Jesus. There was a hill close to her house which was obstructing her view of a street next to her’s. So she said to that hill “Look here, I command you to be removed” A few weeks after she said these words, a government agency came to remove the hill by breaking the stones and then they constructed a road that linked her street with the next street she had always wanted to see. Jesus said “Whosoever shall say...shall have whatsoever he says” It’s a blank check, you can fill in whatsoever you desire because the next verse says “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” (Mk. 11:24). Prayer is a type of speaking. Prayer implies that you make a request and there is no greater request than to make a bold proclamation of what you desire. Jesus tells us to pray our desires and then our desires will become tangible realities.

Words are the most powerful things in the whole universe. Everything we see in this physical world was spoken into being by God. Think about that for just a moment. The first chapter of Genesis lets us see this fact. The following phrases were used repeatedly “And God said...” “And God saw...” The firmaments, the trees, the sun, the moon, the bodies of water are all creations of words. Then the concluding verse says “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good”(Gen. 1:31). Nothing comes into existence without the deployment of words.

A non speaking faith is no faith. Faith pronounces the outcome before its manifestation. Faith looks at impossibilities and declares the emergence of possibilities. Imagination takes on the garment of manifestation when confession is done with persuasion.

If you are not seeing what you desire, check up on what you are saying. Did you know that you could have prayed about something and your regular negative confessions nullified what you prayed about? Take for instance, someone who prayed for a job or a contract but goes about saying “There are no jobs in the country, contracts are not easy to come by these days...I don’t even know if I will ever get a good job” Such a fellow has cancelled the manifestation to his prayer with his wrong confession. Our confessions must be in sync with our prayer. Wrong confessions don’t have to be necessarily the use of foul or dirty language, they are wrong because they are not in line with God’s Word or what you are believing Him for. If you say something will not work, don’t be surprised when they don’t work. Our words form the cornerstones of our lives.

We all ought to consciously observe what we regularly say every time. Don’t be carried away to the point that you forget to pay attention to your words. In fact, you should have a spouse or friends to whom you are accountable that will call your attention to any wrong confession you utter and they can also help you affirm the right ones.

What do you say at the discouraging moments of your life? What you confess at the ungirded periods of your life usually sets you on a course for victory or defeat. I like what Charles Capps said a while back “It is better not to say anything when you are in a bad situation than to say something that will worsen the situation” The Psalmist said “Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips” (Ps 141:3). A clearer translation puts it this way “LORD, do not let my mouth (speak evil words). Listen to what my lips (are saying)” (Easy English). God only permits what you permit. You are the one that will set a watch on your mouth not God. And you do that by deliberately saying what God says about your situation and consciously refusing to say what your feeling dictates. “A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof”

Dear friends, there are no hopeless situations, believers only become hopeless in their imagination and reckless with their confession. Choose to speak right words...words that are in the direction of the desires of your heart “How forcible are right words!...”(Job. 6:25) And guess what? The Psalmist said the word of the Lord is right (Ps. 33:4).

Say these words out loud boldly

I choose to say right words
No corrupt communication proceeds out of my mouth
But that which is good to the use of edifying
And it ministers grace to me and those who hear me
Therefore I boldly proclaim I am who God says I am
I have what God says I have
I can do what God says I can do
I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus
I’m more than a conqueror through Him that loves me
Victory is mine...I’m victorious in all I do
I’m not disadvantaged, the Spirit within me is my advantage
I do not know how to give up because I always win
I don't yield to fear for God has not given me the spirit of fear but of love, power and sound mind
I am kept by the power of God through faith
My Father God supplies my needs according to His riches by Christ Jesus.

Do have a great weekend ... See MoreSee Less

5 days ago

THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD.

Part 4

God is our Father. A father cherishes and nourishes His children. He is a loving and compassionate Father. He truly cares. No truth is so far reaching as this blessed fact, that our Father cares for us. I would like us to see the heart of God the Father. Jesus said this about Him “... your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him...Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?...Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things” (Matt. 6:8,26-27, 31-32). Knowing that your Father really cares for you eliminates thoughts of worry and anxiety. Paul tells us “Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Phil. 4:6). Peter instructs “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Pet. 5:7). You can live a worry free life, it begins with understanding the fact that your Father cares for you affectionately and He watches over everything that concerns you.

Jesus showed us the love of our Father by telling a parable about a father who had two sons in Luke 15:11-32. Many years ago, I wondered why preachers dubbed this parable “the story of a prodigal son”. Firstly, the word “prodigal” was not mentioned in the entire story. In fact, the story began this way “And he said, A certain man had two sons.” This story is usually read from a negative standpoint, from a perspective of the younger son’s bad behaviour, how he squandered his share of his father’s wealth in a wild lifestyle and not from a positive standpoint of the goodness of his father. Secondly, if you carefully read through this parable, you will observe that the word “father” was mentioned 12 times. The emphasis was on the Father. The spotlight was on him.

The story was about a loving and compassionate Father, not a rebellious child. The Father who gives and gives! He gave the younger son before he left home, gave to him when he returned and still went further to tell the elder son (when he saw the extravagant love of his father towards his brother and became angry) that “Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine” vs 31. A father who was eagerly waiting for the younger son. Though he left home but he never at any point left his father’s heart. “ And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him” A father who sees from afar off! A father who lavishes, not lashes! A good good father. No earthly father can be so described No man on earth can fit accurately and adequately into this picture! Jesus was talking about His Father, our heavenly Father! He spoke through Jeremiah to the children of Israel “...Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee” (Jer. 31:3).

We must see our Father God this way. Learn to bask in your Father’s love! Do not see yourself from the viewpoint of your bad behaviours, inadequacies or misgivings. You are accepted in the beloved (Eph. 1:6). Only the goodness of God the Father leads men to repentance ( Rom. 2:4). Your sins maybe great and grave, but His love for you is greater! It is not about your love for God, it is about His love for you! “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love” (Jn 15:9). “For the Father Himself loveth you...” (Jn. 16:27). “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him” (1 Jn. 4:16). We have arrived at the love zone! Where the love of the Father reigns supreme!

Say these words out loud “My Father cares for me. He loves me deeply and affectionately. Nothing and absolutely nothing can separate me from His love.”

You are blessed. ... See MoreSee Less

6 days ago

THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD

Part 3.

“For this reason [ seeing the greatness of this plan by which you are built together in Christ ], I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named [that Father from Whom all fatherhood takes its title and derives it’s name]” (Eph. 3:14-15) AMP.

The term “Father” is the summary of everything that God was, is and will ever be. Hence, we don’t call Him all sorts i.e. Jehovah this or Jehovah that! Just call Him Father. God the Father is not like an earthly king who likes to be hailed with euphoric names neither is He a motor park gang leader whose overblown ego is fed regularly with outlandish descriptive praise singing words. Today in some Christian gatherings, we hear about certain services tagged “African praise” “Old school lapel worship” At the rate things are going, if caution is not heeded, very soon we will hear about “Sango worship style” or “Okija shrine praise pattern”. Christian worship must be devoid of ethnic cultures or human traditions. If there is any culture at all, it is a culture of giving thanks in the spirit with hands lifted up!(1 Cor. 14:15-17; 1Tim. 2:8; Phil. 3:3; Heb. 13:15). No razzmatazz or funfair!

Our thanksgiving is to the Father, it is done in the spirit with an understanding of what Christ has done for us. “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Col. 1:12-14). “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph. 5:18-20).

Whenever we say or sing praises to Him, we must endeavour to call Him what the Son called Him. “...Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name...for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen” (Matt. 6:9, 13). When He (Jesus) gave thanks, He said “..I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth...” (Lk. 10:21). “...Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me” (Jn. 11:41). The New Covenant has plainly spelt out what we should simply call Him! Our Father...the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. We’ve seen this fact in both Jesus’ words and the writers of the epistles.

Jesus also taught us to pray to the Father. He demonstrated this when He prayed for His disciples in John chapter 17. Vs 1. “Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee” vs 5. “...O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was” vs 11. “...Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are” vs 21. “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” vs 24. “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am” vs 25. “O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me” Did you see how He addressed God in prayer?

Later, He taught them to pray to the Father in His name. “And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full” (Jn. 16:23-24). He wasn’t talking about “a day” as in sunrise to sunset. He was referring to a period, a dispensation which we now are! It’s a period that was enacted consequent to His death, burial, resurrection and ascension! It is a dispensation of redemption! We don’t pray to Jesus. He said not to ask Him for anything but we should rather ask the Father in His Name (in His authority: name implies authority), and the Father shall give it to us.

Do you have any need in your life today? It’s time to ask the Father in Jesus’ Name. Ask, make your request and you shall receive from the Father that your joy might be full. ... See MoreSee Less

7 days ago

THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD

Part 2

“When I think of the wisdom and scope of His plan, I fall down on my knees and pray to the Father of all the great family of God- some of them already in heaven and some down here on earth” (Eph. 3:14-15). TLB.

Christianity is a reality of a Father and His great family. Every believer belongs to this family. It is a spiritual family. God’s family includes the believers who are on earth and those who have gone ahead of us to heaven. God is the Father, we are His children. No member has more rights than the other. Everyone has a direct access to the Father (Eph. 2:18). No discrimination or disparity in the Father’s family.

The emphasis on the Fatherhood of God was strong in the epistles as it was by Jesus in the four Gospels. There were 78 mentions altogether. Paul, the prolific writer of the epistles referred to God as “Father” 45 times, the writer of Hebrews 3 times, Peter in his 2 letters, 4 times, John in 1 John and 2 John 17 times, Jude had 1 mention. The book of Revelation had 4 references. He was called the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort (2 Cor. 1:3), the Father of glory (Eph. 1:17), the Father of lights (Jam. 1:17), the Father of spirits (Heb. 12:9) and above all, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ ( 2 Cor. 1:3; 11:31; Eph. 1:3; 3:14; Col.1:3).

Sonship is not a function of gender. Since it is a spiritual family, we are not seen from our gender status. No male nor female! Not sons and daughters! We are all sons! “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the SONS OF GOD, even to them that believe on his name” (Jn. 1:12). “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the SONS OF GOD” (Rom. 8:14). “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is NEITHER MALE NOR FEMALE: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:26-28). “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the SONS OF GOD : therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the SONS OF GOD...” (1Jn. 3:1-2).

Sonship depicts inheritance and position in the bible and not anatomical structure. We have been made to partake same rights, inheritance and position in Christ! (Rom. 8:17). Have you ever wondered why God was/is called the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ? It was because our position in God’s family was purchased and guaranteed through the redemptive sacrifice of Jesus. It was in His access that we found access, it is in His Sonship, we have been made sons! His blood provided a place for us in the Father’s family (Heb. 10:19-20). In fact the word “adoption” as used by Apostle Paul in His letters ( Rom 8:15; Gal. 4:4-6; Eph. 1:5) means “a placing or positioning as sons” Now we have the Spirit of the Son in our hearts whereby we cry “Abba Father”. Abba is an Aramaic word used to describe God as an affectionate Father, it’s like how we say it in English language, “my dear father”. Jesus is not ashamed to call us His brethren (Heb. 2:11-12) neither should we be ashamed to call God our Father.

Say these words out loud “God is my Father, I’m not ashamed to call Him my Father. I belong to His Family. I have access to Him in Christ. I have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear but the Spirit of adoption whereby I cry Abba Father. I am a son of God!” ... See MoreSee Less