âFor I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.â ââJeremiah⏠â29âŹ:â11⏠âKJVâŹâŹ
The above scripture is one many Christians love to quote to exhort one another that God has good things in store for us. These same words were part of a letter delivered to Godâs people when they were taken captive from Jerusalem into Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar.
âThus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon; Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished. And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace. For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.â ââJeremiah⏠â29âŹ:â4âŹ-â8⏠âKJVâŹâŹ
Amidst their captivity and struggle, God instructed them specifically to build houses and plant vineyards for their sustenance. He further asked them to pray for the peace of the city that had taken them captive because their own peace depended on it. In their moments of hell and high water, they were still required by God to see and act positively in order to thrive.
My prayer and hope for you today is that you begin to see things from Godâs perspective regardless of how difficult your situation might be. You donât need to follow the trends and laws of this world to do well in life. Whether you are inherently a pessimist, optimist, realist or idealist is besides the point when it comes to living out your purpose and walking in the will of God. What is important is that you trust God and His word and stay in sync with Him through prayer, meditating on the word and listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit.
âThen shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.â ââJeremiah⏠â29âŹ:â12âŹ-â13⏠âKJVâŹâŹ
It is important to always be in a place where you are humble enough to seek the Lord. Even when you are thriving, excelling, succeeding according to your desires and the standards of this world, donât forget that you need God. The above scripture tells us that it is when we call upon God that He will hearken unto us, He will hear us and answer. It is only when we seek Him that we will find Him and we ought to search with ALL OF OUR HEARTS. We have to deliberately and intentionally desire to know Him and commune with Him to understand the depths of His knowledge and Spirit.
The unexpected is only unexpected from our perspective but from Godâs perspective it is not unexpected.
Lady Rev. Adelaide Heward-Mills
We have to consciously seek Him in everything we do and no matter the circumstances we face to truly appreciate who He is to us and what He does in our lives. I pray that every moment of our lives serves as an opportunity to know God even better; that we experience Him in more meaningful ways each passing day. Just like He always delivered the people of Israel and took them to their promised land, know that you also are the apple of His eye and He will do same for you if you trust in Him.
âTrust in the LORD with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.â ââProverbs⏠â3âŹ:â5âŹ-â6⏠âKJVâŹâŹ
The song here expresses this in very few words. It blessed me and I pray it blessed you too. That we all come to that point where our lives continuously proves the goodness of our God.
May your struggles keep you near the cross And may your troubles show that you need God And may your battles end the way they should And may your bad days prove that God is good And may your whole life prove that God is good
I pray that this encourages you, no matter what you may be going through or where you find yourself, that God cares for you. He loves you more than you can ever imagine and He has your best interest at heart. Just trust His leading through the help of the Holy Spirit every step of the way.
âThen God blessed them, and God said to them, âBe fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.ââGenesis 1:28 NKJV
There was a Pastor who had observed that a particular member of his congregation was always vibrant during the sermon, chanting his feedback about how a good word was often preached. This person had a very weird attitude albeit. He never brought his Bible to church, took notes or actively participated in other important church activities. He would always exclaim chants like âtell themâ, âgood wordâ and the like while the pastor preached.
So one day the pastor prayed fervently to God as he prepared a powerful sermon that this manâs heart should be stirred-up to change through the teaching he was going to give. Incidentally, that weekend was accompanied by very heavy rains and a lot of areas were flooded. On Sunday no one came to church because of the havoc the rains had wreaked except for this gentleman. The pastor was shocked but still went ahead to preach his message.
After the service, the young man walked up to the pastor and said; âthat was a powerful message pastor. It is unfortunate that those who needed it were not here to hear itâ. Many of us like this man receive the seeds of Godâs word and plant them in our hearts but our not yielding the expected fruits.
What does God expect from us? Fruitfulness in our:
Vertical relationship
Horizontal relationships
Your vertical relationship is your relationship with your maker and creator. In your relationship with God, He expects you to be fruitful and not barren. The requirements for developing and maintaining fruits in your vertical relationship with God demands all of you.
Vertical relationship leads to fruitfulness. Love the Lord with all your heart, your soul, your mind and your strength and love your neighbor as your self. You are enabled see the pathway that leads to fruitfulness and success.
âBlessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.â Psalms 1:1-6 NKJV
Jesus cut the unfruitful tree. We are called to bear fruits that remain. Bearing fruits helps in securing your relationship with God through Christ Jesus.
âBut the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,âGalatians 5:22 NKJV
Horizontal relation that leads to fruitfulness entails loving thy neighbor as yourself by expressing compassion, empathy and concern.
âBut you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.ââ Acts 1:8 NKJV
Why must we be fruitful?
To enable us be ministers of the message of reconciliation and ambassadors of the kingdom of God.
âTherefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christâs behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.â II Corinthians 5:17-21 NKJV
To help us live our lives as the salt of the earth & light of the world.
ââYou are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. âYou are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.â Matthew 5:13-16 NKJV
âArise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.â Isaiah 60:1-3 NKJV
âBut you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.ââ Acts 1:8 NKJV
I pray that you are encouraged to live a more fruitful life, bearing glorious fruits as the word has commanded us. Shalom!
âYour word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. I have sworn and confirmed That I will keep Your righteous judgments. I am afflicted very much; Revive me, O Lord, according to Your word. Accept, I pray, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, And teach me Your judgments. My life is continually in my hand, Yet I do not forget Your law. The wicked have laid a snare for me, Yet I have not strayed from Your precepts. Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, For they are the rejoicing of my heart. I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes Forever, to the very end.â Psalms 119:105-112 NKJV
The word of God is a lamp to our feet. It opens our eyes to our current circumstances, positioning and purpose. It is also a light to our path in that it reveals what the future holds and what direction we ought to follow. The light of Godâs word gives us clarity and vision. It divinely enables us to be in sync with the Holy Spirit and Godâs original intent for our lives.
Many of us have through prayers and supplication in our low moments sworn and promised to give off our best, our all, in service to God; to keep His word, submit to His leadings and obey His instructions.We oftentimes get distracted by the darkness of this world, the cares of our lives and the troubles that come our way. We usually lose sight of the truth that only His word can revive us and churn us on to remain on the path of righteousness.
Yes we do have our free will and are allowed to make our own choices and take our own decisions. However, we are ultimately accountable to God for how we live our lives here on earth and to what course we channel our resources and talents. It is only by walking in the light of Godâs word that the revelation of who we really are and what our purpose is becomes clear to us.
âbut if we [really] walk in the Light [that is, live each and every day in conformity with the precepts of God], as He Himself is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another [He with us, and we with Him], and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin [by erasing the stain of sin, keeping us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations].â 1 John 1:7 AMP
And then also sometimes walking in the light is not just about us. Itâs also about others. Being in the light, we are able to commune and fellowship with other brethren in the sheepfold ensuring that we do not miss our way or get snatched into darkness by the evil one through trials and tribulations.
We must learn how to walk in the light of eternal life to enjoy the fullness and the reality of it. Sometimes we think if we have something in the spiritual realm, it should work automatically. It doesn’t. In the natural that’s even true. You can have something in the natural and not know you have it and it won’t do you any good. Yes, it’s in your possession, but if you don’t know it, it won’t do you any good.
No, that’s the reason God gave us His Wordâso we would take time to find out what we have and then walk in the light of it. You can have eternal life and not know what it really is. You can know you are saved and say, “Well, I’m a Christian. Thank God I’m saved.” And you’ll go to heaven when you die.
But you can’t enjoy the reality of it in this life because you don’t know what it is, or what it is supposed to do for you. We have never majored on this as we should.
May the Holy Spirit open our eyes to see what God has in store for us even in this life through His Holy word. May He grant us the courage to fearlessly walk in the light of His word as we discover who we are in Him and fulfill purpose.
Beloved, Calvary greetings to you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
As Christians, God Almighty has blessed us with tremendous and inexplicable amount of power, I mean different kinds of power that deal with different kinds of powers of darkness.
However, some Christians have always wondered as to why they have not been able to subdue some demons. Sometimes these Christians see other Christians as superheroes when the latter are able to exercise dominion over some unclean spirits and they obey and leave.
Remember, Godâs power comes in different shades. There is power to reign found in Luke 20:20, delegated power among others. Today we are going to learn about another kind of power known as â iskoâ, a Greek word. What does it mean?
2 Corinthians 10:6 declares âand having in a readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilledâ. NLT expresses this scripture in this way âafter you have become fully obedient, we will punish everyone who remains obedientâ. This power is based on submission or obedience. Submission or obedience to who? To Jesus Christ of course. How do you then become obedient? Letâs go to John 14: 15, â If you (Christians) love me (Jesus), you (Christians) will obey my commandmentsâ. Itâs as simple as ABCD. This simply means always do what Christ Jesus asks you to do and donât do what he doesnât want you to do. Do we understand? Whatever God asks us to do is for our own good.
It was because of disobedience that Lucifer was banished from heaven. Moses couldnât go to the promised land because of disobedience. Samson couldnât finish on a good note because he also disobeyed God. Can we really become obedient to God in this fallen world? The answer has also been yes. If it wouldnât be possible, God wouldnât advise us to be obedient. If we love pornography and convince ourselves we are married so itâs ok to watch it to spice up our relationship, our obedience isnât complete at all. We are gradually opening the doors to seducing spirits to enter our souls and destroy us later.
If we can respect our companyâs rules and regulations, obey the police or government and if children of darkness can obey their master the devil by going to sleep in cemeteries at ungodly hours for power for a long period and they do it consistently why then do you convince yourself that you canât always be obedient unto God. No wonder, the Bible says â as a man thinketh in his heart (mind) so he is. If you think you are a confirmed gossip and you have made up your mind that that is how or who you are so shall you be. You canât change. God on the other hand believes you can change only if you want to. Find grace and take the necessary steps needed to do the bidding of the Lord.
Itâs not all evil spirits like principalities that can be dealt with delegated authority called â exousia â a Greek word. You can be a man of God or a child of God and asks a particular unclean spirits afflicting your body to go and it will go because you have used the authority Jesus gave you called âexousiaâ, delegated authority .
However, some spirits like principalities will only respond to your command because you live in obedience to Christ. If you are a fornicator who believes itâs right because you canât control your feelings and you feel everyone is like that donât ever confront the spirit of fornication in another personâs life through prayer. This is because Romans 6:16 says â whoever you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obeyâŚâ. So if you are a thief you are a servant to the spirit of theft thatâs what the Bible is saying. If you are in that situation, repent and live for God before you confront that spirit. Some Christians went and commanded the evil spirit behind their business and they were seriously attacked, some were slapped and others were afflicted with stroke. Most of these but not all attacks are products of disobedience.
Jesus said in John 14:30, â ⌠for the prince ( the devil) of this world cometh, and hath nothing in meâ. Jesus is saying heâs so obedient to God to the extent that the devil himself is aware of that reality and based on that he cannot lord it over him. Are you an adulterer that has allowed the spirit of adultery or immorality to find expression in your soul and for that matter your marriage is on the verge of collapsing? Go to God in prayer with a penitent heart and ask him to forgive you. When he does, rise up in holy anger and command that same spirit trying to find expression in the lives of your daughters and say â devil, I was blind but now I can see so in the name of Jesus, you have no property of yours in me so in the name of Jesus, out!ââ And you will be surprised your daughters will have their deliverance. You cannot live in disobedience or sin and expect God to help you subdue some spirits. No way! You may have to exercise your authority in your home as a Christian and not as a pastor. It could be an emergency at midnight when your pastor isnât around to help you. What would you do when you realize the spirit at work in the health of your wife or husband is the spirit of arrogance of which you are also a victim?Think about it.
Finally, to exercise dominion over principalities in our lives, families, businesses or professions one weapon we cannot do away with is the weapon of obedience or holiness. Go and subdue with this knowledge.
In part 1 of this topic, we said if we want to make important decisions, or hear from the Lord, we really have to maximize our midnight hours.
In our anchor scripture, Luke 6:12-13, the Bible said Jesus went to a mountain to pray and later he chose his disciples. Is it a must for us to go to a mountain to pray at midnight for us to be heard by God? Itâs not a must to go to a mountain to pray but for me itâs a must for us to pray at night if we want to change our status quo. Jesus went to a mountain to pray because he didnât want any distractions or whatsoever. If your home is a distraction free area, you can use it as your place of prayer. You donât need to go to any mountain if you are comfortable in your home but if the Spirit leads you to go to a mountain or a prayer camp to pray, who am I to stand against it?
In Genesis 32: 25 – 26 â And when he( the angel) saw that he prevailed not against him ( Jacob), he touched the hollow of his right; and the hollow of Jacobâs thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he ( angel) said, let me go, for the day breaketh . And he ( Jacob) said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless meâ. Until you become serious like Jacob, you may not fulfill your destiny. The Bible says Jacob wrestled against the angel and said if he doesnât bless him, he will not let him go. In other words, you can also go to God in prayer at midnight and say â Father, if you donât give me that child, I will not let you rest until you establish me in marriage. â At night, you could say sickness you have no power over my life, until you die from my life, this war wouldnât stop. War it at night. âItâs at midnight, that the enemy sows tares among the weedsâ says the word of God. As you undo the works of Satan at night like planned accidents, yokes among others, a time will come you will begin to groan in the spirit. At this level, you may take the form of a lion, an eagle etc without your knowledge. This means thatâs who you are in the spirit. You are actually gaining ascendancy in the spirit. Until that satanic covenant is totally broken, donât give up. Even if demons still fight you after praying in the night, increase the number of hours you pray at that night and be stubborn. You must win! Your forefathers tried and couldnât win because they had no Jesus but you have Jesus so with the help of God, you will break that prison gates. It will collapse in the name of Jesus. Your problem isnât your battle. Your problem is actually your bed. Sacrifice that bed until you get the answer from the Lord. Nothing is too late with God. The bed will always be there for you. But for now, you really have to be aggressive and corrosive and change the status quo of your family. If you have to put your legs in water to stay awake and accomplish your mission, do it my dear. No man will fight your battles for you. Men can only sympathize with you and sometimes worsen your case. Stand on the altar of Jerusalem and cry out.
Sometimes when God begins to work on us, we go and relax. Donât ever give the enemy that advantage. Always strike and be on fire till Satan distance himself from you. Sometimes after destroying the works of the devil in your life, Satan may decide to give you some rest so that you will be deceived that the battle is over. He does this so that you may stop your spiritual exercise and when you stop it he will come and strike back when you are cold. Be set ablaze all the time! Donât give the devil an opportunity to misbehave. Even if you have to commune with the Lord at night for at least 30 minutes once a week and thwart the expectations of the devil , that will be good for you. With time, 30 minutes will become 1 hour, 2 hours etcâŚâŚ
If you can watch tv at night when you are still unemployed, unmarried, sick or having a particular problem, I dare say to say Iâm convinced you are not serious. When will you wake up? When you are old? Donât say, if God will do it, he will do it in his time and so you donât need to stress yourself. Who told you that? It was at midnight that Paul and Silas praised the Lord and prayed and the prison gates opened supernaturally ( Acts 16: 25). Force the supernatural to come to your aid like Paul and Silas did at midnight. Get used to this exercise and a time will come it will be part and parcel of your life. You will transfer this grace to your children, and people connected to you because you are itâs custodian by experience.
The Lord cause his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you.
Itâs good to pray with groups or a pastor at night but you you yourself too need your own altar. There are things God will not tell you in a group but he will rather communicate them to you in your closet.
When you are doing war at midnight itâs not advisable to pray in your mind. No! You got to be acidic. When Jesus saw the epileptic man, he shouted â come out of himâ and the tormenting spirit all of a sudden left him. Exercise authority over powers that are saying no to your rising. If you live in a noise with neighbors, donât disturb them with your noise. You may have to go on a retreat or pray under tone in your room but authoritatively because powers of darkness only respond to authority and power.
Anchor Scripture: Luke 6 -12 -13 [ It came to pass in those days that he went out into a mountain to pray, and he continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called into him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles).
Many theological questions have been raised as to why we Pentecostal and Charismatic believers stress the importance of praying at night. Some believers say praying during the day is equally important as praying at night. Another school of thought says, Jesus has won every victory for us, which includes he having prayed at night for us so thereâs no need to worry ourselves and sacrifice our sleep. Sometimes when I hear some of these comments I donât blame us because we simply lack understanding.
To maximize our midnight season simply means we should make the best use of that period. The opening scripture saysâ It came to pass in those days that he went into a mountain to pray and continued all night in prayer to God.â I infer from this scripture that one day, Jesus went to pray. One day meaning there was the need for him to do so during that season. During the day, he went about carrying out his normal activities like we do as humans. But at night, he decided to be with the Lord. Are we followers of Jesus Christ? If yes, we really have to learn from him and apply the lessons learnt to our lives and eventually become like him. Have you ever spent quality time with the Lord at night before? Was it consistent or a one off thing ? What did u do at that time? Spent all your quality time on social media and watching movies? The Bible clearly said he prayed and never used that period for mundane things or things that have no eternal values.
The Bible says â when it was day, he called the twelve.â Thank you Holy Spirit! Meaning that if we really want to make quality decisions in life and destiny, we have to pray at night to be led by the Spirit because after praying at night, the next day he chose his disciples. Pastor, three men want to marry me but I donât know who to choose. âAll of them are believers, gainfully employed and handsome. Iâm confused. Man of God, I have seen two women who have all the qualities I need in a woman but I donât know who to marry. Help me please, servant of God. The Lord has opened doors for me in England and Togo to go and do ministry. Where should I go! This sounds funny right? Most of us wouldnât even waste our time at all on this decision because England is involved. Brother, you need to go to God in prayer at night and make that vital decision. Donât always allow men of God to choose for you because you need to grow in the spirit. Thereâs a place for that where you can go to a man of God to help you but hear this when you learn the art of settling such decisions at night, what a man of God will tell you will be a confirmation of what you know already.
As you pray at midnight, switch in the spirit and begin to pray in tongues. For instance, Lord, you said âI should call unto you and you will answer me and show me great things and mighty things that I donât know – Jeremiah 33:3. Lord Iâm calling unto you now, what business should I do, where should I invest my money? Help me Lord, I canât help myself without your assistance. Tell me what to do and start speaking in the Holy Ghost. As you do that consistently, something will drop in your spirit either by manifestation or something from the choice the Lord has made for you.
You stop executing that particular prayer point at night when you have peace, I mean the peace that surpasses all understandings. I donât mean self generated peace. Peace can come as an excited worship or tears of joy and again not a self – generated one. This experience is what theologians term as a â note of victory â. You can get there if you mean business with the Lord. Just pay the price for most of the conditions of God are conditional.
Thereâs no man that specializes in midnight prayers that will not be in the prophetic. In 1 Samuel 15:16 the Bible says : â Then Samuel said unto Saul, stay, and I will tell thee what the Lord hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, stay on.â Then Samuel says unto ( Esther, Yaa, Sia, Diana etcâŚ.) stay and I will tell you what the Lord will say to me tonight. If you pray regularly at night, your eyes and ears will open with time. Do you want that grace? Then obey the voice of God. Itâs so beautiful to look at men and tell them the plan of God for their lives and to lead them via the voice of Elohim. Donât say this grace is reserved for pastors only. No itâs not true. John 10: 27 says â my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me. Since you are a believer, you are his sheep. At midnight, tell him to open your ears. Tell him you want to know his plan for your life and for others. As you continue doing it, the Lord may decide how to speak to you. It could be via dreams, visions, your spirit, his audible voice among others. One night while praying or after praying while waiting on the Lord, you may hear â Give me thanks, give me praise, itâs wellâ. This means you have entered the realm of the prophetic.
Donât be surprised, if after hearing that voice, God decides not to speak to you again. He does that to see if you love him and you will persist in communicating with him at night. He may decide not to speak for a long time. Donât worry! Continue doing what you did for him to speak and at the same time. He will surely come back to you and open you up to another dimension of the prophetic. Believe you me, you will never be normal after after hearing from the great Monarch. Confidence will then be built in you and you will become as â bold as a lion â and you will go to places that fowls have not yet discoveredâ. Your boss at work, your colleagues, family members, friends and loved ones will look for you for you to unveil the blueprint of their destinies to them and these men will too will honour you in kind and cash. You wouldnât need to ask them for a reward by the Lord Himself will move on their hearts to bless you and all the glory will be given to Jesus Christ. The Lord bless and keep you!
âLikewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.â
1. You need the influence of the Holy Spirit to pray because it is not easy to talk to somebody you cannot see.
2. You need the influence of the Holy Spirit to pray because it is not easy to talk to somebody who does not say anything back.
3. You need the influence of the Holy Spirit to pray because you do not know what to pray for.
4. You need the influence of the Holy Spirit to pray because you are spiritually discharged as you go about your daily life. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit you are charged up like a battery.
1 Corinthians 14:4 – The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.
5. You need the influence of the Holy Spirit to pray because otherwise most of your prayers will be directed by the flesh and by foolishness.
You need the influence of the Holy Spirit to pray otherwise your prayers will be well-rehearsed phrases. When you are anointed to pray, your prayer is dictated and directed by the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4).
6. You need the influence of the Holy Spirit to pray because without the anointing to pray, everything you say is listened to by the devil. But when you pray in tongues devils do not understand what you are saying.
1 Corinthians 14:2 – For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
7. You need the influence of the Holy Spirit to pray because through that influence you will know the mind of the Spirit.
When you pray in tongues you can hear the voice of the Spirit by interpreting your prayer.
1 Corinthians 14:13 – Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
8. You need the influence of the Holy Spirit to pray because it is difficult to pray for a long time. When you are under the influence of the Holy Spirit you will be able to pray for long hours like Jesus.
Mark 1:35 – And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
Luke 6:12 – In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.
9. You need the influence of the Holy Spirit to pray because your mind wanders when you pray. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit you can speak in tongues and to God. This helps you to concentrate on God everywhere you are.
But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and LET HIM SPEAK TO HIMSELF, AND TO GOD.
1 Corinthians 14:17 – For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
10. You need the influence of the Holy Spirit to pray because in the natural you may not have a grateful attitude. But when you are anointed to pray you can give thanks well.
âAnother parable He spoke to them: âThe kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.â
Leaven is an unseen, hidden influence that excites the dough and causes it to expand, rise and become lighter. Jesus Christ taught us that the kingdom of Heaven is also subject to hidden influences that affect everything.
The influence of the leaven on the dough is both real and amazing. Yet leaven is invisible when it is working mightily.
Unseen influences are real. Unseen influences are either good or evil. The greatest good, unseen influence in a Christian’s life is the Holy Spirit. The sweet influences of the Holy Spirit!
I am going to share a list of the different areas in which we can expect the influence of the Holy Spirit. We must look ouf for it and we must pray for it. The influence of the Holy Spirit is vital. It is most important for our survival.
â What is influencing you as a child of God?
â What is guiding you and making you do the things you do?
â Are you under a good or evil influence?
There are three unseen unseen evil influences that are unknown and misunderstood by Christians.
âAnd the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.â ââJames⏠â5âŹ:â15⏠âNKJVâŹâŹ
â Devils (Devilish influences) – people here are influenced greatly by evil spirits. All unbelievers are under the influence of devils. Christians who are not spiritual can open themselves to demonic influences.
â The world or the earth (Earthly influences)- these are people who have their hearts set on this earth, they are carnally minded, they donât think about eternal things.
â Our senses (sensual influences) – they follow their appetites, they like to eat a lot, sleep a lot, fornicate a lot and engage in a lot of pleasurable things.
When people are not under the influence of the Holy Spirit they will be under one of these other influences. (Devilish, Earthly, Sensory)
âYou were running [the race] well; who has interfered and prevented you from obeying the truth? This [deceptive] persuasion is not from Him who called you [to freedom in Christ]. A little leaven [a slight inclination to error, or a few false teachers] leavens the whole batch [it perverts the concept of faith and misleads the church].â ââGalatians⏠â5âŹ:â7âŹ-â9⏠âAMPâŹâŹ
A little leaven can greatly affect your Christian life, because it has an amplified effect on the Christian.
The ultimate effect of the sweet influences of the Holy Spirit is to make you a spiritual Christian. Spiritual people are usually the active in church serving God. You must aim to be a spiritual person who lives under the influences of the Holy Spirit. If not then you will definitely come under other forms of influences this life.
â The sweet influence of the Holy Spirit on your knowledge of God.
We cannot see God but the evidence that He exist is all around us.
Your knowledge of God is deepened in a very way by the presence of the Holy Spirit.
They Holy Spirit is the key to the knowledge of God.
How the Holy Spirit influences your knowledge of God.
1. Holy Spirit Guidance into truth; under the sweet influences of the Holy Spirit you are led to truths and realities when you read the Bible.
âHowever, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.â John 16:13 NKJV
2. Holy Spirit reminders: when you are under the sweet influences of the Holy Spirt you are constantly reminded about the things Jesus Said.
âBut the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.â John 14:26 NKJV
3 . Holy Spirit direct teaching: when you are under the sweet influence of the Holy Spirit you are taught many things Directly by God.
âBut the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.â I John 2:27 NKJV
4.Holy Spirit knowings: when you are under the sweet influences of the Holy Spirit you have a âknowingâ about many things.
âBut you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.â I John 2:20 NKJV
5. Holy Spirit led ministers of God: when you are under the sweet influences of the Holy Spirit, you accept anointed messengers ,apostles, prophets and teachers who God has sent to you.
âAnd He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,â Ephesians 4:11-12 NKJV
6. Holy Spirit communion: when you are under the sweet influences of the Holy Spirit you will share fellowship with the Holy Spirit and with other believers
âThe grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.â 2 Corinthians 13:14 NKJV
âTruly God is good to Israel, To such as are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no pangs in their death, But their strength is firm.â Psalms 73:1-4 NKJV
One of the most important things in life is not to be alone without true fellowship. You know you are envious based on how you feel and react to someoneâs good news. Envy is more serious than lust and adultery. Envy is one of the heavy weights/ weightier matters.
âWoe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.âMatthew 23:23 KJV
âThey are not in trouble as other men, Nor are they plagued like other men.â Psalms 73:5 NKJV
Thoughts of ourselves being great and good come to us when everything is going on well in our lives. Trouble humbles you. A man of God who God loves surprisingly has many troubles. The reason why certain people are proud is the absence of pain, troubles and problems. They have everything their hearts wish for. Sometimes the greatest blessing that God will send to your life is trouble or pain. It may be the reason why you will eventually make it to a high and glorious place one day. You need to take your time and be humble in order to get there.
âTherefore pride serves as their necklace; Violence covers them like a garment. Their eyes bulge with abundance; They have more than heart could wish. They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression; They speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue walks through the earth. Therefore his people return here, And waters of a full cup are drained by them. And they say, âHow does God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?â Behold, these are the ungodly, Who are always at ease; They increase in riches. Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, And washed my hands in innocence. For all day long I have been plagued, And chastened every morning. If I had said, âI will speak thus,â Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children. When I thought how to understand this, It was too painful for meâ Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end. Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors. As a dream when one awakes, So, Lord, when You awake, You shall despise their image.â Psalms 73:6-20 NKJV
All the questions of your life are answered in the house/ sanctuary of the Lord. You get to understand the reason for the past pains, disappointments and unanswered questions. The end of a rich successful person who has nothing wrong in their life is so sudden.
âThus my heart was grieved, And I was vexed in my mind. I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.â Psalms 73:21-22 NKJV
Watch out for people who are hurt or offended. They can behave like an animal to you. A wounded animal is usually more dangerous. It is advised not to drive over a snake to kill it. It may be wounded and get into the car to attack you later. Try not to be bitter and rather be healed from the things that have hurt you.
âNevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.â Psalms 73:23-26 NKJV
Can you boldly say too like the Psalmist from the above verses that there is nothing else on earth that you desire besides God? Things like a house, a car, a spouse and children, a thriving career or businesses, etc.
We can clearly learn about the power of being close. There is an advantage for being close to God. Those who stay far off are the ones who will perish. Looks are predators and usually attack buffaloes. Buffaloes on the other hand stay together. But the loose ones who stay afar off end up falling prey to these hungry predator lions.
âFor indeed, those who are far from You shall perish; You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry.â Psalms 73:27 NKJV
Develop yourself depending on your strength. Donât try to be like someone else. Try to be closer/ inside/ within Godâs presence at all cost. Donât take delight in being afar. Taking pride in being far away may cost you your life.
âBut it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, That I may declare all Your works.â Psalms 73:28 NKJV
The extent to which you are near is for your own good. Why do we spend time with God in the hiding place? Not so that we will get money or riches. Not so that God will kill all of our enemies. Rather we ought to dwell in His presence to enable us tell others about the wonders of our God. May the Lord bless us with closeness to His presence. May we always desire to dwell in His hiding place.
Acts 1:4-5 (NKJV) And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, âwhich,â He said, âyou have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptised with water, but you shall be baptised with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.â
Acts 1:8 (NKJV) 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.â
Who is the promise of the Father – Who is the Holy Spirit?
In 2 Corinthians 13:14, Apostle Paul wrote a benediction to the believers in Corinth; âThe Grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Love of God, and the communion (Fellowship) of The Holy Spirit be with you all.â
The Grace of our Lord Jesus
The original meaning of the Greek word for Grace was â The ultimate in beauty â
The second meaning of Grace was âfavourâ good-will given out of unconditional, overflowing love with no expectation of reward or payment.
A third meaning of Grace referred to a praiseworthy work, exhibiting virtues far exceeding the common.
In this benediction, the apostle Paul must have felt a surging joy beyond description, knowing the unconditional forgiveness of sins and the many blessings of salvation – the full beauty or Grace.
The promise of the Father is the Spirit of Grace, who is The Holy Spirit.
Titus 3:4-7; But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
we have received regeneration and renewal by the Spirit of Grace. (Biblical examples)
God has given us the promise who is the Holy Spirit, our response now is to know Him, fellowship with Him and work with Him.
â knowing Him requires acknowledging Him as the promise of the Father and the spirit of Grace.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV); Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
Who is the Holy Spirit?
Exactly who is this wonderful Holy Spirit? To have fellowship and to work with Him, we must know Him well.
Though impersonal metaphors such as Fire, water, oil, dove and so forth used for the Holy spirit used have Biblical basis, they have been used to such an extent that some people donât really know Who He actually is.
Let us consider the Bedrock truth. – The Attributes of the LORD HOLY SPIRIT AS GOD 1. The Holy Spirit is God.
A. Like God the father and God the son, the Holy Spirit is a member of the God head.
Jesus set the Holy Spirit in the same position as God the father, and God the Son in Mafhew 28:19
âGo therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,…â
Jesus set the same authority, power and glory for the Holy Spirit as the Father and the Son.
B. The Holy Spirit is God in that He carries out the work that none but God can do.
â The Holy Spirit created the heavens and the earth by the will of God ( Gen 1:2, Job 26:13a )
â He raised the dead (Romans 1:4; 8:11**)
â He causes people to be born again (John 3:5-7)
â He reproves the world of sin, of righteousness and of Judgement (John 16:8)
â His power casts out devils (Matthew 12:28)
C. The Holy Spirit has All the Attributes of God
â Only God is Eternal (Hebrews 9:14)
â Only God is Omniscient (All knowing. – even the deep things of God ) – 1 Cor 2:10
â Only God is Omnipotent (All powerful) Luke 1:35, Psalm 62:11-12
â Only God is Omnipresent (Everywhere at the same time) Psalm 139:1-12***
So isnât the Holy Spirit who is Eternal, Omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent â God? The Holy Spirit is also majestic and holy and glorious, as the Father and the Son.
Thank you LORD for the Holy Spirit who is the promise of the Father.
Following our wise and only God is supposed to make us same so as to reflect one of His divine characteristics and thereby drawing massive souls to Christ Jesus but unfortunately some of us have decided to become unwise because of the love we have for some of our leaders who didnât give us the whole council of God through their teaching. In most cases, what these leaders teach or taught us is or was a part of the whole truth or even wrong doctrine that we embrace with all our heart without searching the scriptures for ourselves like the Berean Christians who â were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were soâ – Acts 17:11. Can u imagine, Paul, an Apostle chosen by God who had an encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus went to these Thessalonians and preached the word and they still went ahead to see or check whether Paul was right or wrong in his teaching. Isnât that incredible? These believers were very wise indeed and Iâm pretty sure they pleased the Lord. They didnât behave like unwise fellows. One day when we get to the judgment seat there will be no excuse at all. We have everything at our disposal in this 21st century dispensation to prove to the world that our wisdom is indeed celestial hence higher than the terrestrial one for we belong to the only wise God.
The demonstration of this heavenly wisdom must find expression in all we do here on earth.
Sadly, most of us donât allow this wisdom to manifest in our lives especially when what we are being taught is a wrong doctrine. We accept everything because of the love we have for a man or the faith we repose in them as Christian leaders who maybe well-meaning people but still hold on to teaching centered on the flesh or legalism.
On the flip side, some other believers just ignore the laws of nature and act foolishly and pay dearly for their actions. Out of zeal without knowledge, a Christian, can go and take poison and drink it and say the Bible says âeven if we drink a deadly thing, it shall not harm usâ. In as much as this verse is correct, is that how it is to be applied? Do we have to tempt God?
Beloved, a Christian replete with wisdom values his health. I mean they donât play with their health at all. In as much as they give attention to the spirit, they are also give same attention to their bodies because we are given a body per our life time and not many bodies. Maintaining our bodies in good shape is our responsibility and not the Lordâs. He or she knows when to go to hospital and when to apply herbs for we are spirits but live in bodies. We are dual beings and what connects our body to our spirit is our soul. Genesis 1: 29 says; âAnd God said, behold, I have given you every herd bearing seed which is upon the face of all the earth, and every treeâŚ.â God uses different ways to heal our bodies when we are sick. He is the one who gave us herbs for medicinal purposes. Unfortunately, some Christians will never use herbs to cure their sickness because they believe itâs demonic and to worsen their situation they will prefer using faith than using herbs. This âzeal without knowledgeâ make some believers lose their lives before their time because they donât value their health.
Do I believe in faith? Absolutely! But we donât have the same level of faith in this kingdom. If your faith isnât helping you and you have another option like herbs why donât you go for it and get cured my dear brother? After all, all the glory will eventually go back to Jesus. If we value our health, we wouldnât take some things for granted at all.
I donât however believe in âherbalistsâ. Iâm not talking about licensed professional herbalists who are believers. Iâm talking about Jujumen who hide their true identity under the guise of âherbalistsâ and use herbs alright, by speaking to them and invoking demons upon them and giving them to Christians to use. My friend, if you value your health, you would not go to such people. Most people have contacted demons through the instrumentality of such people here in Africa especially.
Discernment is key here. As a believer you should be able to tell whether someone is of God or not. Some of us when we approach such agents of darkness, we sense they are not of God but we still collect their herbs or products and say we prefer living than dying and we consequently establish satanic covenants with these evil people that will need serious hands to destroy in the name of Jesus. In Togo, I was told there was or still is a man who heals people with herbs and he seemed to be getting results. These happened some years ago and I was very sick and my parents were convincing me to go get help from him since modern medicine together with surgery had failed me. As soon as they started talking to me about that agent of darkness I just knew he wasnât of God. Iâm sorry I canât explain how because I donât know how to explain it to you my dear brethren. My parents insisted and I asked them simple questions like âwhere does he live?â and they said in a bush. Is he a Christian? They said; âWell he is not an evil personâ. He goes to a church I donât believe is of God that I donât want to mention here because of the sensitive nature of this case. My parents went on to tell me that itâs a gift he has from âGodâ and he uses it to help others. I categorically told them Iâm not moving an inch though I was dying. Beloved, that so called man prepared some concoction for a girl who was suffering from epilepsy and she got temporarily healed and after exactly a year the sickness resurfaced in a very violent fashion. Now, they always have to be sending the lady to the place for help thereby establishing satanic covenants without their knowledge. Precious ones, do you know the girlâs father is a pastor? Be wise in these last days and say no to the agents of darkness even if you have to lose your life for Jesus for ââŚwhoever loses his life for my sake shall find itâ – Matthew 16-25.
A wise Christian doesnât disdain modern medicine. If they have to go to hospital for a surgery, they do so without hesitation because they believe itâs God who is healing them through another means. I have seen some believers lose their lives because they were told by their leaders than modern medicine is diabolical but that assertion is not true. These precious souls refused to take medicine on their sick beds and waited for God to come and heal them but that divine intervention never found expression in their lives and they exited this world prematurely and in an unwise manner.
If you value your life, you will go to hospital when your faith fails you. I know of some Christians too who refused to go to hospital and got miraculously healed because of their walk with God or Godâs mercy! Please, letâs be wise in our Christian walk and make God proud. Donât expect God to come and heal you when he has given you doctors to handle what they (doctors) should handle so that God and his servants (men and women) of God can rest. Was Luke, the disciple or apostle of Christ Jesus not a physician (doctor)? Did Jesus downplay his profession? Never! If you have the opportunity to send a loved one to hospital do that as you also pray and believe God for healing. Donât make a mistake by saying that sending that loved one to hospital is an indication of lack of faith and later lose them and blame your church or pastors later. Please, be wise!
If you value your health too, you wouldnât downplay regular checkups. I was under the weather last week and I thought it was malaria like we all think in Africa. So I did my self medication to no avail so I finally went to the doctor who conducted a test on me and found out that I was suffering from mild typhoid. He prescribed some medicine for me and here I am hale and hearty. Praise Jesus! Medical checkups wouldnât cost you a fortune my dear. Itâs better to be healthy and enjoy life than to be sick and not being able to enjoy your wealth and life. When we have a headache, menstrual problems, stomachache among others in Ghana or Africa we say conclude by saying itâs malaria. Can u imagine? Hey! God, have mercy! Please, you wouldnât lose anything if you go and see a doctor as soon as you realize you are not fine. Do you know, if I hadnât gone to hospital, I wouldnât be fine and maybe the worst could have happened to me and God may not have intervened though He can heal all kinds of sicknesses and diseases?
Drinking at a least enough water is indicative of the fact that you value your health too. As you drink enough water, you will realize that your urine will be very light and the lighter it is the better. Donât keep too much urine in your bladder and be procrastinating. Once you feel the need to go to the washroom, please go oh go! Please, donât be lazy to the detriment of your health. I know you are very wise so if you used to do that, you have put an end to it now in the name of Jesus! Keeping too much urine in your bladder can cause you serious health issues.
Donât consume too much salt. Read on food and nutrition to become a better person for Daniel said âI understood by booksâ. We have no excuse these days especially if we are educated. We can get all the information we need on internet, books, in seminars or from specialists. Letâs always avail ourselves to studying and be approved of the Lord.
Eating heavy foods as well as fast food late in the night can be detrimental to your health. Why eat âbanku, fufu, kenkeyâ or any other heavy food late in the night consistently? Isnât it possible that kind of diet could attract obesity or any other related sickness? I know of some folks who can take indomie late in the night and retire to bed immediately after eating it. Thatâs opening the door for indigestion or heart burn problems that could have a heavy toll on your health my friend. Please, you can eat your indomie but not late in the night or regularly. Do you want to maintain your shape as a woman? Donât wait for God to come and do it because he will never do it for itâs your responsibility. Receive the wisdom of Elohim!
Finally, walk with the wise for whoever walks with the wise shall be wise but the company of fools shall be destroyed. Donât always be in the company smokers and other bad people for if all your friends are 10 and they are all not wise, please I assure you you didnât count well, they are actually 11 âfor evil communication corrupt good mannersâ – 1 Corinthians 15: 33.
You and I are wise Christians! Folly is not our portion! We shall go far in life and destiny. Because of the display of wisdom in our lives at our workplace, in our homes, churches, areas, we shall be sought after by all and sundry.
The little and great shall come and sit under our feet to be directed and guided in life with respect to decisions regarding all aspect of their lives. The world will notice that grace in us and through that we shall win massive souls for Jesus our Master and King in Jesus name!!!
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, âWho do people say that the Son of Man is?â And they said, âSome say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.â He said to them, âBut who do you say that I am?â Simon Peter replied, âYou are the Christ, the Son of the living God.â And Jesus answered him, âBlessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.â
The Lord asked this question in Mark 8:27-29 and in Luke 9:18-20
The ministry of Jesus had taken off with many wonderful signs and wonders being seen, His fame had gone abroad that multitudes of people would gather at his meetings to hear him preach and be healed.
Jesus asked a very important question when he was in the company of his disciples. He wanted to know who people knew him as. He was not confused about his identity, he knew who he was, he wanted to know if people knew him.
Jesus asked his disciples âwho do men say that i am? â The answers Jesus got were varied and different. They answered him saying
1. Some say you are John the Baptist
2. Some say you are Elijah
3. Others say you are Jeremiah
4. Some say you are one of the prophets
It is amazing the responses Jesus got. They clearly showed the people did not know him at all.
He was certainly not John the baptist, how could he been John the baptist? It was John who Baptised Jesus. Jesus was not Elijah, Elijah was a prophet that that ascended to heaven many years before Jesus was born on Earth. He was not Jeremiah either. It was clear the people has the wrong identity of Jesus.
Now Jesus wanted to know what his disciples thought. he asked âBut who do you say that I am?â Out of twelve disciples one had the right answer. Simon Peter replied, âYou are the Christ, the Son of the living God.â One person had sought to know the man. Peter had made it his business to know the identity of Jesus. By seeking he got This knowledge by divine revelation.
And Jesus answered him, âBlessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.â
To know God requires revelation. Three things that come as a result of revelation.
1. Identity change :
1 Peter 2:9 (ESV) But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Your identity changes from nobody to the blessed of the Lord. Simone Bar Jonah (Simon son of Jonah) Peter son of the fisherman. I tell you, you are Peter (a rock)
â Abram changed to Abraham ( A father of many nations )
â Sarai ( Barren ) – Sarah ( mother of many nations )
â Saul ( murderer ) – Paul ( A bond servant of Jesus/ Apostle)
â Jacob ( the swindler) – Israel ( the prevailer )
2. Your purpose changes. you become someone God can use, your purpose becomes Godâs purpose. He calls you blessed so you become a blessing.
Matthew 16:18 (ESV) And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
When God revealed Himself to Moses as I AM THAT I AM. his purpose changed from being a shepherd of sheep and goats to being a deliverer of Godâs people.
3. You receive the keys of the kingdom
Matthew 16:19 (ESV) I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.â
Keys give access. An owner of a house without a key will have no access to house. In the kingdom of God ( Heaven and earth ) there are gates that require keys for access. A lack of the right keys will mean you are behind the gate without access.
Jesus is asking; âwho do you say that i amâ?Remember knowing someone requires relationship. Jesus wants you to know him by developing a relationship with Him.
Paul said;
âThat I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the deadâ – Philippians 3:10-11.
Virtuous Living 