Dont go blank...Check the receipt

One day Peter and John were on their way to the temple and they saw a beggar asking for Alms. Rather than give him money, they decided to do this instead.

Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

What informed their decision ? How did they know they had the power to do that? They checked their receipt. They had just been given something (power after the Holy Spirit came upon them) and when they realized what they had, they knew what they could offer to the situation at hand. When every one was in shock this was Peter's response.

Acts 3:12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? 3:13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. Acts 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

They knew where the power came from because it had been clearly spelt out earlier. Jesus already told them they would recieve power Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 

Peter & John were not hoping, they were acting in faith. The knew what they had received. They were working based on what they had been given, Jesus had paid the price for them and they knew that 'healing the sick and raising the dead' was a part of what he paid for. They knew what they had received.

Jesus also was very aware of what was written about him. 

Luke 24:44

And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me....

How aware are we of what has been bought for us? Jesus Paid for our sin & bought us salvation. We know that but what does that cover? If there was a receipt booklet with all the things contained in salvation, what would be on the receipt? 

When last did we look into scripture to know what was available for our situation. Receipts can fade with time and we forget what we bought. Sometimes we struggle to buy something we already have because we forget it is in our cupboard. One way to prevent ourselves from feeling like victims or from being victims is to check THE Receipt. (Gods Word). That way we can stand on our rights as Children of God and we can use what we already have. 

For example do you remember the Bible says: 

The Lord will help me and I will not be ashamed (Isaiah 50:7)

OR

There shall no evil befall you neither shall any plague come near thy dwelling (Isaiah 91) 

OR 

Let he who lacks wisdom ask God who gives freely 

OR

He will cover you with His pinions,
And under His wings you may seek refuge;
His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. (Psalm 91:4) 

The list of blessings is actually endless. When last did we pray these scriptures over our situations? What about YOU SHALL LAY HANDS ON THE SICK AND THEY SHALL RECOVER. When every trouble comes your way, DONT GO BLANK...Check your receipt.

There is so much for the believer in Gods salvation Covenant but FAITH comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. 

Read your Bible and everyday, check your receipt, use it when you pray.

Commune with the Holy spirit everyday and all the way.

Know what you have or someone will make you into what you are not. 

God Bless

 PRAYER FOR TODAY! 

Dear Lord Jesus, Thank you for the price you Paid on the Cross for me. God my father Thank you for Your word that shows me who I am and the Holy spirit who gives me Power to be who you have made me to be. Lord I will walk in the fullness of your Glory in Jesus Name. Teach and help me to read your word and live as the King you have made me through the blood of your son Jesus. Not only will I read your word Lord, help me proclaim it to the captives and set them fee. In Jesus Name, Amen

Search out some of Gods promises and proclaim them on Your life today #GodsWordWorks. 

Hallelujah

Get ready or go quickly

Jesus gave the disciples an Instruction . Then he said...WAIT. Acts 1:2 then he said Acts 1:4 and 1:8 The most important part of successfull obedience is enablement. Since we know that God does not call the qualified, he instead qualifies the called we must not see a calling as the only sign that we are ready. 

Acts 1:2-8

King James Version (KJV)

2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
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.
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

We must not see our moment of calling as a validation our readiness or our ability. Remember that God told Noah to build an ark before showing him how to make it. Sometimes God prepares us for things before HE calls us but he can also call us and ask us to Wait A Bit so that he can teach and show us how to achieve and do that which he has called us to do. We do not also want to over wait so while waiting we need to be sensitive for more direction and not just direction but ENABLEMENT God who told David about what would happen to Jesus Acts 2: 25-28 He is never surprised. 

Do you feel God has called you to ministry and you are 'stuck in an office' OR are you hungry to know what God called you for? Do you wish your life was making more impact. 'Wait on God' that in itself is a call. Maximize the opportunities you have around you presently to live a life of impact.

1 Timothy 4:12

12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Be an example of the believer

Talk to people about Christ

Take part in activities that enrich others

Pray, Fast, Study

He who called you is faithful and able by his word and his spirit to equip you for your task. You may not be where you want to be or where you feel God has sent you to, but where you are right now, start doing what you can do. Wait on the Lord, he will send you the contact, task, enablement etc that you need. Do not be discouraged, sometimes waiting is part of the process, your life is not wasting if you are IN THE PROCESS. If you are waiting dont while away time.

Keep your fellowship with God strong remember you are waiting on Him.

God Bless

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord help me to wait on you, help me to be a blessing where I am. Lord use me mightily for your work. Make me an instrument in your hands. Help me to represent you even where I am right now. I love you Lord. Use me for your Glory and for your name sake.

In Jesus Name

Amen

Its a trick!

When was the last time you felt like the only honest person left on the planet. Have you every heard something that made your skin crawl and wonder if anyone else on earth still fears God? Here is an interesting true life story of someone with a similar experience.

Interesting Story
1 Kings 19

¹² And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

¹³ And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

¹⁴ And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

¹⁵ And the Lord said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:

¹⁶ And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.

¹⁷ And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.

¹⁸ Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

¹⁹ So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.

Elijah was on the run because of what happened in the previous chapter

1 Kings 18: 34 

³⁴ And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.

³⁵ And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.

³⁶ And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.

³⁷ Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.

³⁸ Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. ³⁹ And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God.

After this victory, Elijah got people to kill the 450 prophets of Baal who had unsuccessfully gotten baal to set fire to their burnt offering. Because of this Jezebel sent a message to Elijah swearing that she would kill him within 24 hours and he got up and RAN! 1 Kings 19: 1-7

The question is WHY WAS ELIJAH RUNNING?

He had just called down consuming fire from heaven. How come he was afraid of Jezebel's threat. We can find a clue to this answer in verse 4 where he asked God to kill him

1 Kings 19:4-7

⁴ But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

Elijah had been victorious over evil many times, he still believed in God's authority and ability to save but he was just tired. Tired of fighting along, tired of feeling like he was the only one a few verses later  when God asked him, Elijah, what are you doing here his response said it all

¹⁰ And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

Elijah was tired because he believed he was the only one left. He had tried all he could. There must have been a reason the others had all gone. Maybe its really more difficult than anyone can bear. Why suffer alone when they are all resting in heaven. Let me go to heaven before I join those who went astray. Maybe one day I will buckle under the pressure. Lord please take me while I still can make heaven. I am not better than all the others, the temptation is too much I don't want Jezebel to catch me unawares and kill me or punish me.

¹⁵ And the Lord said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:

¹⁶ And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.

¹⁷ And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.

¹⁸ Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

It is normal to feel overwhelmed and overworked when you feel like you are the only one resisting temptation, fighting the fight of faith, not stealing, not lying, not cutting corners, not cheating, trying to live right. It feels good sometimes to feel like in a big bad world you are one of the very limited few who are truly serving God. It makes you feel exclusive and righteous. But it is a setup, it is the devil setting us up to give up when the pressure gets really tight.

It is the devil dividing us so he can conquer. Never forget that the devil cannot touch you and it is not because you can save yourself, it is because God saves you. It is not because you can pray one thousand times a day it is because Jesus himself is praying for you.

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25 KJV

Whenever you begin to feel like 'EVERY ONE IS DOING........' Don't Fall For It. It is a trap. It is a trick to make it easier for you to give up when pressure comes. You may cherish it to the high heavens just as Elijah cherished God's work but he ran away not because he stopped loving God. He was just sure that no one else had survived that pressure.

Dear believer, please don't propagate the mindset that everyone is stealing, cheating, lying, fornicating, doing rituals e.t.c It is not true, we are not the ones that know. God is the one who preserves his people and he is the one who knows. Yes, some people are doing it, maybe even the majority but it is certainly not everyone. And if you are on the verge of breaking down because you feel no one has probably overcome what you are facing, or that only a few people do. Please be encouraged. You are not alone and He that is in you is far greater than he that is in the world. It is well with you in Jesus Name. 

 ¹⁸ Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him. 

The third group of believers are those who represent the other 7000 prophets in Israel  Elijah was in a place where 7000 believed what he believed and yet he felt alone. Maybe because they were in hiding in order to avoid persecution. Dear, child of God. If you stand for the truth...STAND UP and SAY SO. Do it so that someone around you who is probably 'in hiding' will know that he is not the only one living for God, faithful to his wife, ignoring evil, avoiding bribes e.t.c

When intense pressure comes to do something that is wrong, usually the strongest thing that makes people fall is the thought "No wonder no one else can cope, no wonder everyone else gave in." If you didn't give in be as vocal as those who did and want everyone else to think its impossible not to.

God Bless

PRAYER

Thank you Lord for your grace, mercy and favor. Help me to live right and as your word said to be an example of the believer in thought, word and deed. Help me to remember that you have made me a light so I can shine and encourage people around me to live holy by you grace and mercy. Lord help me to always remember that I am preserved in you not by my power or your ability but by the enable-ment of the Holy spirit inside me. Help me that no matter how many times I fall, I should remember that in you I have victory over sin so that I can rise again and stand strong in you.

I love you Lord in Jesus Name

Are you what you feel you are?

John 3:17 (KJV)

¹⁷ For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

James has a bad cold but he doesn't want to go tot he hospital. It has been going on for a week weeks now but he doesn't care. He will take over the counter medicine if he has to but there is no way he will go to the hospital. He doesn't want to go because three of his room mates who had similar cases ended up getting diagnosed with pneumonia and they were all so sacred and stressed out for a while taking all kind of medicines. One of them even died. Now Chike and Thelma are on his case telling him he should go to the hospital quickly. James is not listening because he is not willing for someone to diagnose him of anything big. He is taking flu medicine and that's final. 

What James is not considering is that:

-Even though a diagnosis will change the way he feels (make him scared or stressed), with or without a diagnosis he has, what he has.

Jesus came not to condemn but to save. The Holy Spirit makes us aware of our sinful state (like a diagnosis), sin is what condemns, not HIM. Without him we would live 'blissfully unaware' of the condemned state we live(d) in. Jesus came to save us and then make us blissfully AWARE of our justification and freedom in him. After our awareness of an already sinful/condemned nature, we have a choice to accept the sacrifice of Jesus meant to justify us (i.e cleanse us, make us no more guilty, save us, remove condemnation which is the price for our actions). After that happens, we are no longer condemned neither can we be condemned.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8 :1)

Here is an open secret. People who accept Jesus and his sacrifice are not perfect people, they are just Saved.  Blessed and happy and ^[a]to be envied is the person of whose sin the Lord will take no account nor reckon it against him. That's in Romans 4:8. So the first step really is to know what condemnation means: It simply means you are the one responsible for paying for your sins

2nd step: Sin has power over you until you pay

3. Jesus came to pay(that's why he bled and died)

4. If you accept his payment on your behalf you then become ABLE to live above sin.

5. Otherwise you are back to number one (you have to pay by yourself)

Do you see where this is going?

Many of us refuse to come to Jesus because we feel he will condemn us, but in truth the Holyspirit is just giving us the diagnosis of what we are. James in running away from the doctors did not realize that a diagnosis was only necessary in order to administer the right cure which would take the feeling away.  

People may condemn you, even those who know Jesus. You shouldnt care what they think, because they themselves cant justify you. Jesus will never condemn any who comes to him. He came to save and he is so dedicated to saving that when HE ROSE AGAIN he makes it his business to save us daily. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more [certain], now that we are reconciled, that we shall be saved (daily delivered from sin’s dominion) through His [resurrection] life. Romans 5:10 AMP

The only difference between someone who has Jesus and someone who does not, is that one is free and the other is not. One is going to pay for his wrong doing and the other is free because he accepted the offer to have his sins paid for. 

Halleluyah! Jesus rose again and is saving us everyday so we cannot be condemnable

Slowly read this: It explains clearly the basis for indictment:

^John3:19 The [basis of the] judgment (indictment, the test by which men are judged, the ground for the sentence) lies in this: the Light has come into the world, and people have loved the darkness rather than and more than the Light, for their works (deeds) were evil.

Don't for the fear of 'feeling' condemned reject the only person who can save you from 'being' condemned.

For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (^[d]unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. (John 3:16)

Christ died for you

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Thank you Lord for making me know that I am not condemned. Help me to show your love to others and not be self-righteous. I know that I cannot make myself righteous. Thank you for the Holy spirit, my teacher, helper and comforter. Take all the glory honor and praise Lord. Help me Lord to hold on to Jesus so that he can make me more like you each day. Thank you Jesus for your death and resurrection to give me salvation. May everyone I know come to the knowledge of you so that they can escape judgement. In Jesus Name I pray Amen

If you have done all you can!

 

Isaiah 50: ⁷ For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.

Have you ever waited, trusted, prayed, fasted, 'faithed' and believed God for something that seemed like it will never come. Have you or are you still doing all to stand in faith waiting for a blessing or miracle. This message is for you:

What do you do when you have done everything you think you should do and yet your set time doesn’t seem to have come? The answer is here in Ephesians 6 and Isaiah 50

^{Ephesians 6
10} Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. ¹⁹ Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Lets X-ray verse 14 – 19, they tell us what we are to do. After doing everything to stand, we must stand firm. Holding on to:

- Truth: Jesus is the truth, God’s word is truth

^1John2:20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.^[e] 21 I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. ²² Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. ²³ No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.²⁴ As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. ²⁵ And this is what he promised us—eternal life.

- Your right standing with God (through Christ): You are made righteous by the blood of Jesus. John says: If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

^{1 John 1:7} But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all^[b] sin.

1 John 2: 2 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. ² He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

- The Gospel of Peace and be ready for your blessing

- Don't loose faith. The devil will try to tell you so many lies to make you loose hope. He is a liar. Always have a scripture to use to resist the devils fiery darts.
Faith extinguishes all arrows. Faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word of God.

¹⁹ This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence:²⁰ If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.²¹ Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God ²² and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. ²³ And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. ²⁴ The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

- Be aware of your salvation and protect your mind. Don’t let the devil convince you that God has abandoned you.

1 John :3 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. ² Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears,^[a] we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. ³ All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

Finally : Ephesians 6:18  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. ¹⁹ Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

This is a Word Specially For you. God cannot sell you out. He is able: He is Mighty! Read this scripture designed for the weary soul. Stand and see the deliverance of God

Isaiah 50:1 Thus saith the Lord, Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? [God has no creditors and he will never sell you out.] Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.

² Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst.

³ I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering. [He is able and powerful enough to deliver you]

⁴ The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.

⁵ The Lord God hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.

⁶ I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

⁷ For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. [Trust God completely and speak positive, you shall not be disgraced or ashamed]

⁸ He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me.

⁹ Behold, the Lord God will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up. [Remember God has made you righteous by the blood of Jesus]

¹⁰ Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.

¹¹ Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow. [Vengeance is the Lord’s, wait on him]

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

For you oh Lord God will help me, therefore I will not be confounded: Lord I set my face like a rock, looking upon you, I know that I will not be ashamed. My God who justifies me in near; who will contend with me? God is for me, who can be against me? Noone. Let him come near to me. They will flee in many ways. Behold, the Lord God will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? Noone! They will all wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up. Holy spirit please help me to walk in the fear the Lord, and obey your voice. Even though I walk through a way that seems dark and there is no light and all seems confusing, I WILL TRUST IN YOU LORD! I TRUST YOU LORD. I will lean on you lord God, I shall not be shaken and my feet shall not be removed from where you have planted me.

Behold, all ye that kindle a fire against me, that compass yourselves about trying to consume me. Walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks that you have kindled. The word of God says this; you shall lie down in sorrow.

 After you done all you can...just STAND...Keep standing...God is taking you to an expected end.

One more reason

Ephesians 4:20-22

²⁰ But you have not so learned Christ, ²¹ if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: ²² that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,

Beautiful Scripture. We are to learn Christ. And when we learn him, he teaches us to put off the old man. Halleluyah! Overcoming sin is a product of eternal life. One more reason why we should not agree to allow anything stop us from fellowshiping with God continually.

We know that as children of God, we can enter into his presence boldly no matter what our state is, because God has no oprphans. We also know that nothing can seperate us from the love of Christ.

If you are a child of God, you have eternal life in Jesus Christ and eternal life is knowing God. According to God's design, we do not overcome sin and then come to God because we cannot overcome our sinful nature without God. Instead, we are to come to God just as we are and then receive eternal life which will enable us to live above sin. Then we are to live  by our new nature which is above sin.

Romans 8:1
8 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. ² For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death. ³ For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ in order that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. ⁵ For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. ⁶ To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, indeed it cannot; ⁸ and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.


Having the Holy Spirit in us, is our only hope of living a life that pleases God. When we receive his power to do right,  we are now able to put off sin and the works of sin. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to us and God teaches us how to put on the new man as we learn Christ. As we fellowship with him through the Holy Spirit in his Word, Worship, Prayer, Praise we grow and become more like him as discussed in Practically In Love

We have discussed some of the effects and benefits of eternal life and of having a living relationship with God in previous posts. The ability to live right is one more/main reason why we must keep our relationship with God thriving and ongoing. Sometimes we feel we cannot relate with God because of our sin but it doesnt work that way, it is supposed to be the other way around. When we make mistakes or have problems, if we allow guilt or anger seperate us from God, that is when we  would begin to do more and more things that we do not want to do.

We must, protect our relationship activities with God, fight to keep your spirit alive, fed and taught. It is by learing Christ that we over come sin. You are always welcome in God's presence. He gives you the knowledge and the enablement to put away the old man. The order is, come to God, learn, and do away with the old self.  Remember the practical tip about how to read a passage of scripture? Okay do that with this inspiring passage below.

¹¹ And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, ¹² for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, ¹³ till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; ¹⁴ that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, ¹⁵ but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— ¹⁶ from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
 The New Man
¹⁷ This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of^[d] the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, ¹⁸ having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; ¹⁹ who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

²⁰ But you have not so learned Christ, ²¹ if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: ²² that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, ²³ and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴ and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
 Do Not Grieve the Spirit
²⁵ Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. ²⁶ “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, ²⁷ nor give place to the devil. ²⁸ Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. ²⁹ Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. ³² And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:11-32)

One more reason to fight every tought or feeling that tries to keep you from God's presence: You need God to Win over your old self. The first two parts of this passage show us the right order

In summary: You become a new man as a result of what Jesus Chirst sacrificed on the cross. Receive God's forgiveness and righteousness. Learn how to be like Christ. Act on what is being learnt and make a consious choice to do the right thing.

Knowing the right thing to do and having the enablement to do the right thing and even wanting to do the right thing are all the things we get from God by excersizing our eternal life and interacting with the Holy Spirit. Having all these things doesnt mean we will automatically do the right thing.

We have to make the consious decision to use this leverage to do what is right. Never accept sin in your life and never allow it keep you away from God either, keep coming into Gods presence keep feeding your spirit. Keep fighting against temptation and keep winning. If you have fallen 6 times, it only proves that you have stood 6 times, you are getting better at standing strong. Never accept sin as  permanent feature in your life no matter how strong the tempation, keep standing, keep rising, keep growing. Through it all, God is never going to turn his back on you, Jesus made sure of that, when he took your sins on the cross. Our sin grieves the spirit of God but the blood of Jesus atones on our behalf and we have right standing with God when we repent. Dont let anything stop you from repenting and coming back to God. Keep your relationship with God inseperable. Fill youself with his word always. it is the tool with which he transfoms us.

Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 

If the enemy can come and tempt you while you are praying, then dont stop yourself from praying when you have fallen.

Fight For Your Life.

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord my God, maker of heaven and earth. Help me to live a life that is pleasing unto you. In Jesus Name Amen.



Do  you want to start a personal relationship with God to please him?  It needs to be through the sacrifice of Jesus, God sent Jesus to pay for our sins because no man can pay for his sins by himself. You DONT have to try to become a bit cleaner or better or holier before you approach God. Dont hate yourself, God loves ou. You only need to accept his sacrifice and ask him to make you clean. The natural nature of man since Adam sinned was to be bound to sin, but eternal life gives us the power to become a new person with power over sin who can plese God. Please pray this prayer today and unlock within you, a new level of ability to please God.

PRAYER

Lord I thank you for your love, thank you for sending Jesus to die for my sins so that I do not have to pay for them before I can approach you. I cannot pay for my sins. I accept the sacrifice of Jesus who died and rose again to shed his blood and wash away my sins. I ask you Lord to wash my sins away and make me a new person. Come and live in my heart and teach me to live a life that is pleasing unto you by your Holy spirit. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen

Get Connected...Stay Connected - Practical 2

Matthew 6:32-33

³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

If you give yourself to God, you will be amazed what he will give you in return.

 

Falling in love is easy in most cases, because it just happens. Remaining in love on the other hand, is a truly different story, it requires work. There is no sweetness in a loveless relationship and therefore any relationship worth keeping is worth investing in.

Man is called to KNOW God and Jesus Christ whom he has sent. God put everything we need in life inside himself. That way, he could give them to us when we need them. Unfortunalty sin came and separated us from God and offered cheap substitutes to the original plan of utter greatness God had  for man. Imagine man (ADAM) who had the abilitiy to name all the animals and know their names, now we (man) with the same body and configuration now strugglesto remember up to ten phone numbers by heart. Mans greatest ability is revealed when we are connected to God and that is what God wants us to have. Man was designed to remain connected with God and this is the reason he sent Jesus Christ to die, cleanse us and connect us.

John 3:16

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Eternal life is knowing God

John 17:3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

Knowing God is an ongoing process of relationship and communication and in knowing God, lies all the riches of the power of his Glory which is revealed in us as we become like him.

Luke 10:19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

One of the benefits of eternal life is that we can worship God in the way he desires.

John 4:22-24

²² Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. ²³ 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. ²⁴ God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

God Loves worship! And when we worship God amazing things happen.

Hebrews 11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Here are practical tips for getting your worship going.

Key Tip: Remember to be present. Worship is one of the most amazing intimate activities we can have with God. It is important to have our minds on God.

Worship, just like praise and prayer can and should take place anywhere and anytime. As a result of this, sometimes it is difficult to be present when we worship. One’s mind may stray to what to cook for dinner even while still on his/her knees singing a ‘love’ song to God. Or in many cases it becomes a time to excersize vocal cords and try different parts of the song. Sometimes our minds may stray to worry or something stressing us. There are so many things that try to creep into our minds when we are worshiping God.

But worship isn’t a song, a tone of voice or a place. We worship God with our whole selves through our spirit and the Holy Spirit.

TIP 2: Speak to the Holy Spirit, ask him to help you worship God. Take a deep breathe and clear your mind.

TIP 3: Whenever you catch your mind going places when you are worshiping God, just put your mind on him, think of how awesome his love is, remember how he continues to love and save you, consciously fill your mind with thoughts of his greatness. Imagine his presence, how mighty He is and how much he loves you. Make it all about him and even when your voice sounds nice or coarse, evenwhen you remember something you are supposed to do just don’t dwell on it.

Concentrate on your father who sent Jesus all the way to suffer and die, JUST so that you may know him. Halleluyah! Let him have your company, Jesus died to make that possible.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends...John 15:13

Remember that when we interact with God, we become an the best versions of ourselves, great things occur and heaven comes into our everyday lives (Miracles Happen).

TIP 4: Being present doesnt mean we cannot pray, worship or meditate on God's word all through the day.  It just means that we need to be conscious of what we are doing, when we are doing it. In a relationship we need to be aware of the other person.

Dont be suprised when God talks back...it is so definite that he will. Infact, mix the Word, Worship and Prayer into your everyday life and watch what happens.

Halleluyah!

Glory!

 

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Thank you Jesus for the work you did on the cross. Thank you father for your grace and interest in my life. Hallowed be your most holy name. Help me live my life on earth according to your purpose for me at my highest level of ability in you. Refine me like Gold into who you made me to be without anything holding me back from your best. I am the head and not the tail. My family is a source of blessing. Strengthen my pastors in their walk with you lord, though the enemy may come like a flood, Lord raise them high above sustain them by your power that they will not fall in Jesus Name. My finances are blessed. Help me to forgive all, including myself of all wrong doing and come boldly into your presence. Forgive me Lord for my own wrong. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen. This is a blessed day.

 

PS: Take out 5 minutes today to give God exclusive Worship time.