Virtuous Living

Bible like a Map

“Heaven and earth [as now known] will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” Matthew 24:35 AMP

While taking my occasional walk on a nice Saturday morning a lady asks me for directions to an event. I was privy to this event because the path she was on was my usual trekking route. She was on the right path so urged her on the keep going till she noticed a sign I described to her. Shortly after, a few kilometers from that spot, another gentleman asking for directions to a different location. He had just passed the junction he needed to take so I redirected him to go back. Many a time we need some form of guidance to help us on this journey of life. These two examples are very simplistic version of how life can be. Now let me share with you two very interesting incidents with regards to guidance and direction I experienced myself.

I was attending a friends father’s funeral and the usual route was the Accra-Tema motorway. Not very familiar with the area I was going to, I resorted to google maps for directions. Halfway across the motorway I was greeted with terrible traffic. Google maps kindly redirected me but unsure of how that route will be (and bearing in mind how the recent rains have eroded the un-tarred roads within the city) I chose to stick to the highway. Needless to say it took me an extra hour and forty minutes to arrive at my destination.

On an entirely different occasion, I was headed to a meeting and had been to the location a couple of times. Barring early morning traffic, I could have been there in half an hour. However since the traffic was inevitable that morning, I anticipated the worst and tripled my commute time. I again resorted to Google maps for guidance and it took me round alternative routes until I got to the final junction I use to arrive at the destination I was going to. When I got there, the maps rerouted me, again!!!. Confused and not wanting to be the centre of unnecessary chaos, I obliged and followed the maps. I won’t bore you with the details of my regret. Bottom line, I drove needlessly through town for an extra half hour until I realized my folly and went back to basics😩😩😩.

What is the lesson here? Life is essentially filled with circumstances we need to deal with. It can be difficult finding the right tools to navigate issues while aiming at success/ greatness/ fulfillment and avoiding failure/heartbreak/ regret and loss.

Most of us may be familiar with the Sunday school song: read your Bible pray everyday, if you want to grow. Out of the blue I heard my daughter singing it over and over and decided to quietly pay attention to whether or not she was singing the right lyrics. Then to my surprise what I heard her singing instead was “Read your Bible read it like a map, if you want to grow”.

What better way to read your Bible than as a torch to navigate this dark world. Scripture rightly puts it in Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp for my foot and light on my path.” Psalm 119:105 CJB

The message version gives us an even more vivid perspective of the writers prayerful desire to be drench in God’s word:

“By your words I can see where I’m going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path. I’ve committed myself and I’ll never turn back from living by your righteous order. Everything’s falling apart on me, God; put me together again with your Word. Adorn me with your finest sayings, God; teach me your holy rules. My life is as close as my own hands, but I don’t forget what you have revealed. The wicked do their best to throw me off track, but I don’t swerve an inch from your course. I inherited your book on living; it’s mine forever— what a gift! And how happy it makes me! I concentrate on doing exactly what you say— I always have and always will. * * *”Psalms 119:105-112 MSG

“- I always have and always will”. Help us Lord to so desire Your world all of the days of our lives.

“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh conveys no benefit [it is of no account]. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life [providing eternal life]. But [still] there are some of you who do not believe and have faith.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who did not believe, and who would betray Him. And He was saying, “This is the reason why I have told you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him [that is, unless he is enabled to do so] by the Father.””John 6:63-65 AMP

Your question then may be, “how do I study, grow and mature in the word of God?” or “the Bible is a huge book so where do I even begin?” Below are some choices you can make today to practically engage more with God’s word.

1. You need to read the word of God. Crave or desire pure spiritual food. The word will only grow in an honest and yielded heart. You sincerely have to yearn for it just as your body does food when it’s famished. 1 Peter 2:2 (NKJV) as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby
2. Hear the Word of God continually for faith to grow. Buy tapes if possible and available. Listen to podcasts of preachers who speak the unadulterated word. Romans 10:17 (NKJV) So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
3. Study the word of God. You need to dig deep for your own self. After hearing from others, seek your own revelation. 2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV) Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
4. Have a consistent quiet time. Establish a daily appointment with God where you commune with him on a personal level. Luke 5:16 AMP “But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray [in seclusion].”
5. Meditate on the word of God. Speak the word in faith. Ponder over it and obey it. Joshua 1:8 AMP “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall read [and meditate on] it day and night, so that you may be careful to do [everything] in accordance with all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will be successful.”
6. Memorize it. Eat the scroll. Deuteronomy 6:6-9 AMP “These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be [written] on your heart and mind. You shall teach them diligently to your children [impressing God’s precepts on their minds and penetrating their hearts with His truths] and shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up. And you shall bind them as a sign on your hand (forearm), and they shall be used as bands (frontals, frontlets) on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

“My son, keep my words And treasure my commandments within you [so they are readily available to guide you]. Keep my commandments and live, And keep my teaching and law as the apple of your eye. Bind them [securely] on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart.”Proverbs 7:1-3 AMP

“Your word I have treasured and stored in my heart, That I may not sin against You.” Psalms 119:11 AMP

Why not trust God who knows all things because He made all things. The manuscript of your story, your journey here on earth, is not only known by Him but is written by Him. You have an Omnipotent-Omniscient-Omnipresent God. Failure is not an option if you allow Him to order your steps. Just trust Him and trust His word!

With Love, Esinam.

WHO SHOULD I MARRY ? PART 2

Calvary greetings to you in the precious name of Jesus.

In my previous article, I stated that one of the factors we have to consider in choosing a life partner is not feelings, friendship or prospects. Don’t get me wrong, please. The factors I just mentioned as touching relationships or marriages are very important because after all we are all humans but remember they should not be the main reason why we should marry someone.

Hence, as a way of recap and in order of priorities, the first factor we should consider in marrying someone is the leading of the Spirit. This is very very important if we want to enjoy our relationship here on earth. For more details on this point, kindly go to part 1 of ‘Who should I marry?’.

Remember God doesn’t force His will on anyone with respect to one’s choice of a partner for He said “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing, therefore choose life, that both you and your seed may live” – Deuteronomy 30:19.

So you see Elohim allows us to choose but it doesn’t mean He can’t help us make a good choice if only we ask Him to do so. It was Jehovah who commanded Hosea to marry a prostitute – Hosea 1 and 3 and it was the same Entity who helped Abraham in choosing Rebecca for Isaac.

The second factor we should consider in choosing a partner is purpose.

Purpose is higher than emotions. You don’t see the enticing figure of a beautiful damsel and say because of that you love her and must marry her at all costs neither do you see a handsome dude and say you want to marry him for “ beauty is vain: but a woman/ man that fears the Lord, he or she shall be praised” – Proverbs 31:30.

The appearance of someone may attract you but beyond the attraction consider purpose. What did God tell you about the blueprint of your destiny and what role can the other person play in helping you fulfill your purpose? As a medical doctor, what role can a secretary play in your marriage so that both of you can fulfill your destinies? Let me tell you the truth, most of us don’t consider purpose. All we want to know is does he or she work or come from a good family? These questions are vital for any relationship but do you know that that person with a good job or who comes from a good family may not fit into your destiny and so wouldn’t be able to help you actualize your destiny?

The Bible says concerning man “I will make for him a suitable helper”. The help the Lord is talking about goes beyond feelings, house chores, sex and having children. When you discover your purpose, it becomes very very easy to find your partner because he or she will resonate around your purpose. Do you know your purpose on earth? If you know your purpose, your partner will be in a better position to help you become who the Lord has called you to be. I know someone who didn’t know his purpose before he got married. Prior to his marriage, all he kept saying was “I’m old (30) and my grandma and mum say they want to see their grand child” so for that matter he has to marry at all costs. This guy had no good job at the time neither did the woman. He didn’t have money in his account so I advised him to get a good and stable job before getting married and seek the face the Lord but he never listened to me. Before Eve came, Adam had a purpose. What was it? To work on the land. But he )my friend) didn’t have it. I wasn’t surprised to see him go through bitter experiences in his marriage a few years after I had advised to him. He looked older than his age and came blaming the woman and confessing that he made a mistake in marrying her. I shook my head and encouraged him in the Lord. Do you see the results of disobedience?

Unfortunately, some of us knew about our purpose but as soon as we got married, we got relegated to the background because our partner who had a low self esteem, saw us as threats never wanted us to outshine them. Why?

Unfortunately, some of us can’t just couldn’t fulfill our purpose because we got married to a purposeless person . Getting married is a general purpose so to speak or a subset of the main set.

Purpose answers the question why am I here or it’s the reason for which something is done. Purpose goes beyond ambition. You don’t create your purpose but you discover it through your potentials, passion, place of consistent pain and anger and service.

Until we pay attention to the pointers of our destiny and pray till the confirmation comes from God we would not know our purpose here on earth. With all due respect and with a sense of humility I can not marry someone who doesn’t fit into my purpose. No matter how beautiful or elegant that woman is. “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers” the Bible says. This means a lot. Do you know even a Christian you know very well may not be your life partner not because they are bad or evil but simply because they don’t fit into your purpose? In other words, the fact that the sister is in the choir or the brother is a prayer warrior doesn’t mean they are good for you as a partner.

Your purpose isn’t unknown to God but it maybe to you if you don’t find it out. Jeremiah 1: 5 declares “ Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew you and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained you a prophet (banker, teacher, interpreter, marriage counselor etc…) unto the nations. Do you see that? What’s your purpose my dear? If you don’t know it, discover it before you get married, please. What informs who you marry is firstly the leading of the Spirit of God and secondly what informs who you marry is the degree to which your partner aligns to your purpose and so if you don’t know about the leadings of the Spirit and have not found your purpose, please you are not yet ready to get married.

Finally what informs who you marry is the fear of the Lord. Someone who fears the Lord obeys the principles of God and always pleases the Lord. When they even offend God, they quickly become penitent and make sure they don’t repeat that act again. You can see that in them and feel they fear the Lord if you yourself fear the Lord because it’s “ iron that sharpens iron”.

The fear of the Lord is more than church attendance, tithe paying or working in church. Anyone who doesn’t fear God will hurt you and wouldn’t feel anything because their conscience is dead. They can rain unprintable words on you as insults or bring a woman to your matrimonial home in your presence and sleep with her just to hurt you. A godless man I know told his Christian wife, he would do everything possible for her to leave his house. You may say how would I know he or she does not fear the Lord? My dear, if you are truly a believer you will know the moment you meet them or with time through the instrumentality of the Spirit or their behavior or the things they constantly say. Most of the people who have serious issues in their marriages today saw the handwriting on the wall and yet they entered the marriage.

You maylove them with all your soul, spirit and body but if they don’t fear God, forget about them. One day, we sat together as colleagues and a lady asked us what was our take on pornography and as soon as another colleague began to share his views on the subject from the platform of the scriptures, the lady who asked the question got irritated and screamed “ hey, it’s not about the Bible, as for you when they ask you a question, you start quoting the Bible, it’s not about the Bible, it’s simply about common sense”.

I was taken a back. This lady initially said she was interested in me but my spirit never liked her and now her mindset confirmed to me she didn’t fear God without even knowing she revealed who she is to me.

No one who fears the Lord will discard God on any matters of life. Besides, this lady sometimes plays gospel early in the morning at work and later worldly music must follow. What do you see here? Do not follow your feelings and say you love them and so you can’t do without them oh”. You will regret it, trust me. Homes fail most of the time because we marry godless people. In fact, when we introduce such godless people to our family the question our parents first ask them if they themselves don’t know the Lord is what work does he or she do and later does he or she go to church? The first question should be does he or she love the Lord? If he or she loves the Lord, their love for God will be seen in many ways. Later you can ask what work do they do?

The angels of the Lord encampeth round them that fear him, and delivereth him – Psalms 34:7. I will choose those who fear the Lord a million times over those who don’t fear Him because the Lord can turn the story of the godly at anytime through His angels. If someone has money and doesn’t fear the Lord don’t accept their proposal because the decision you make determines your destiny. If you get someone who fears God and has prospects, he or she could be a good partner for you but prospects should not be the priority. The priority should be God leading you, he or she aligning with your purpose and their fear of the Lord. Try and read on how the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa met his wife and you will know God uses several ways in helping us choose a godly partner. If the three points I raised ( leading of the Spirit, purpose and the fear of the Lord) aren’t seen in your partner, trust me they are not your partner. If we knew this, most of our marriages would be tantamount to heaven on earth.

Thank you for reading. I hope you have been blessed.

Dr. David Tobi Ogoudou

WHO SHOULD I MARRY? PART 1

Marriage is a union between a man and a woman that creates a family tie and carries legal, social and/ or religious rights and responsibilities. From a Christian standpoint, marriage doesn’t involve two men or two women. It’s between a man and a woman who are legally or traditionally married. God didn’t create Adam and Robert or Eve and Hannah. He intentionally and intelligently created Adam and Eve, a man and a woman and united them in holy matrimony. Any perversion of the ordinances of God as touching marriage like gayism, lesbianism, bestiality isn’t marriage for us believers. My target are believers, please. If you are not a believer, you may not appreciate this article.

Now, is marriage for everyone? The answer is no “ for there are some eunuchs which were born from their mothers’ womb and there are some which were made eunuchs of men and there be eunuchs which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake” – Matthew 19:12. A eunuch is a castrated human male or a man who is not inclined to marry and procreate. These words came from the lips of the Master Himself. In other words, some may not marry because they were inclined not to marry like prophet Jeremiah in the Bible. Others may not marry because their inability to get married is a function of demons. This issue needs 🔥 and there are others who won’t get married because they themselves don’t want to for the purpose of the Kingdom like apostle Paul. You may quote several scriptures to prove that it’s a must but my dear friend it’s not and will never be. Is it good to get married? Absolutely for “he who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favour from Lord” the Bible says.

On a flip side does it mean he or she who isn’t married has no favour like we say by explaining scriptures out of context? No! The major mentors of marriage like God, Jesus, and apostle Paul themselves were not married. Were they devoid of favor? Telling people they must marry to obtain favour or because they are of age or they are the only son of their parents is one of the reasons why people go into marriages and get divorced. Is that the main reason why believers are commanded to get married? Once again the answer is No! To marry and enjoy your union, you must fulfill some requirements as a believer. The fulfillment of the requirements below do not however guarantee that there wouldn’t be problems in your marriage. There would certainty be some problems because no marriage is perfect but the good news is that you will resolve that issue by His grace and it wouldn’t affect your marriage in a negative way.

In view of the aforementioned, one of the questions that young people like asking us preachers is what factors do we have to consider in choosing a life partner? This question may sound very bizarre to some of us who are already in a relationship or married because for us factors are not really the point. What matters to us is what we feel towards the other person and love. Are feelings and love important? Oh yes they are! But they shouldn’t be the main reason why you get married to the other party.

When you come to court, you will realize that day in day out, marriages are being dissolved based on reasons ranging from matters of sexuality, financial problems, barrenness among others but what we forget is these are not the real problems. In fact, these issues are only the products of the choices we made and which we must be responsible for.

Having laid my foundation, what must we consider as believers before getting married?

To begin with, we must be led by the Spirit in choosing a life partner. Please, you heard me right! This is superior to emotions or friendship. It’s important you marry someone you have feelings for or someone who is your friend but that should not be the main reason why you want to spend the rest of your life with him or her. This is because, you can have feelings for someone today and when problems come tomorrow, those same feelings will disappear into thin air. Someone too maybe your friend today but when you quarrel with them, that friendship can easily come to an abrupt end. If you are not yet sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, I tell you you are not ready to get married. Don’t compare yourself to other people who were not led by the Spirit but seem to be doing well. Paul said if we compare ourselves to others we are not wise. Every human being is led by a spirit whether they are aware of it or not. Strive to hear the voice of Elohim and once you get to that level, who you marry becomes a simple thing to do because you will be led. I hear some people say these days God doesn’t lead people in choosing a life partner and that you yourself must go and choose . When I hear some comments , I don’t blame them because I know they are only communicating their level of ignorance.

People like Evangelist Benny Hinn, Apostles Johnson Suleman, Michael Orokpo, Arome Osayi among others were led by God in choosing their life partners because they paid the price of being led by the Spirit. Receive that grace NOW! I also receive that grace to marry a woman ordained for me by divinity. If you don’t believe in what I’m saying you can’t be led for “all things are possible to they that believe“. If you are not born again chances are high that you may not be led by the Spirit of God in your marital quest for the Bible declares “as many that are led by the Spirit of God ,they are sons of God” – Romans 8:14.

To be led by the Spirit of God, you must passionately ask God to lead and He will do that for “He who asks shall receive”. You will be surprised to hear that most people don’t ask God to lead them in choosing someone to marry. They firstly choose the person and later come and tell God to endorse their choice for them and that act is what guarantees a failed marriage in most cases. Once you take God out of the equation, another spirit takes over. To be led means God can speak to you through other means like visions, prophecies or dreams. But don’t forget that, all visions or dreams that are not in consonance with the Word of God have to be discarded immediately.

When God leads you, you will have the “ peace that surpasses all understanding “. For some of us when we were getting into that relationship, we felt or just knew it wouldn’t work but we still went ahead. Please, listen, almost every believer who is going through marital issues today saw the signs of problems before getting married and they still entered. Do you blame God? No! He has given you a will and expects you to exercise it for His glory. If you decide to do otherwise, that will be your own cup of tea. I’m not trying to be insensitive; that’s the truth. If you are in a bad marriage, I sympathize with you. Receive grace to work it out for nothing is impossible with God. You can also be led by God when you realize that you and your partner to be share a lot in common which brings about compatibility. The Bible says “ He who doesn’t have the Spirit of Christ isn’t His “( Jesus) – Romans 8:9. To be led, you have to be born again and once you are born again you will have the Spirit of God in you who will lead you if and only you allow Him to do so. Sometimes, the choice the Lord may make for you may have nothing to do with the specs you idolize in a woman or man but you will just have to trust and obey Jehovah who knows what is best for you and with time you will appreciate His choice for you.

If your marriage isn’t working however , go to God in prayer and ask Him to help you and He will tell you what to do. Learn from the mistakes you made and be a blessing unto others for Jesus still loves you dearly. Shalom!

Dr. David Tobi Ogoudou

Dead Works

The consideration of repentance and dead-works are two topics that the modern christian often overlooks. In the dispensation of spiritual gimmicks and spirituality we often overlook the vital aspects of our walk with Christ Jesus. I once heard a great man of God say to a congregation that if Jesus were to appear in His Church one sunday He would not be recognised. The modern church might not be able to recognise Him. let us look at the issue of repentance and dead works.

Three Key Scriptures:

2 Corinthians 7:10 (NKJV) 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

Galatians 5:19-21 (NKJV) Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Hebrews 9:13-14 (NKJV) For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

The problem with the modern Christian is that we have compromised on so many levels that the works of the flesh are now normal to us. we have forgotten about our eternity and indulge in the little pleasures of life because now our conscience is seared.

There is a need for us to go back to repentance and turn to the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

Repentance

Repentance leads us to God (Acts 20:21). It puts us in a place of willingness to hear and obey God. Worldly sorrow or regret will not lead us back to God, only Godly sorrow constitutes true repentance.
At new birth, God gives us a new heart and we must constantly renew our minds so that our actions will conform to our changed hearts. This allows us to serve God truthfully. (Heb 9:14).

Repentance should not be viewed as a ‘once only’ act, but an attitude of the heart necessary for our continued relationship with God.

• Repentance is an ongoing and continual attitude and not a single act. 1 John 1:9

• True repentance is turning away from what you are and not merely turning away from what you have done. No one can come to genuine repentance who has not repented both of what they have done and what they are.

• True repentance requires turning to the living God by faith in Jesus Christ and seeking after the righteousness of God. Matt 6:33; Acts 26:20; Eph 2:10

Repentance from Acts that leads to death

Dead works are major hindrances for the Christian walk. They include all acts and activities such as the works of the flesh. Those who indulge in the works of the flesh such as Adultery, fornication, immorality, strife, jealousy, outburst of anger etc will certainly not inherit the kingdom of God. These works are sinful and it would be difficult for a believer to practice any of them without being convicted in his conscience.

According to Galatians 5:19-21, Those who elect to do these things exclude themselves from the inheritance in Christ.

Other types of Dead works?

There are other types of dead works which are more deceitful. These works look externally good works, but spring from corrupt sources and are therefore like a filthy garment/ Rom 7:18; Isa 64:6

They are scarcely crimes and flagrant breaches of the law but can be formal, false, legal observances and self- invented works with which men justify their stand before God. Matthew 7:21-23

1. Works done without joy. The kingdom of God consist of righteousness accompanied by the joy of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14:17) . Only those who delight to do His will can bring joy to the heart of God.

2. Works done without faith. As faith without works is dead (James 2:26), even so works without faith are dead works. Anything a man does without a full persuasion of its lawfulness, it is sin to him. (Romans 14:23; James 2:26).

3. Works done without love. If we obey the commandments of God without love, our works become fruitless. Without love our service is worthless. Rev 2:2,4; Matt 22:36-40

4. Works done for personal gain and honour (Rev3:1; John 5:44; John 12:43). Whenever we glory in our accomplishments for God, we have begun to worship the works of our hands. Acts 7:41

5. Works done for the sake of obtaining selfish rewards.

6. Works done without zeal. “I know your works, you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot… be zealous
therefore” (Rev.3:15-19). Half-hearted works are dead works. We are to love the lord our God with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind and all our strength. (Mk. 12:30). Our worship and praise must be wholehearted, not lifeless and dead. Our praying must be with burden and we are to be “aglow with the Spirit” at all times (Rom. 12:11)

Why do we need to Repent from dead works

1. Repentance is a universal necessity. Luke 24:46-47

2. The conditional nature of God’s mercies necessitates Repentance. Forgiveness is linked to Repentance.

3. Our sinful nature drives our desires, will, emotions and actions and makes it is impossible to please God.
Repentance is required for our daily sanctification 1 John 2:16-17, R0m 8:8.

4. We need to repent from actions in the flesh as we continue to walk in Christ. (Gal 5:19; 1 Cor 3:3).

5. We need the foundation of repentance from dead works to enable us press on to maturity.

6. Fruit bearing requires repentance. Matthew 3:8; Acts 26:20.

7. An attitude of repentance drives perfection in us. Matthew 5:48 Luke 18:9-14;

I believe you have had a lot to think about. The amazing thing about the Grace of God is that it gives us room to turn from the wrong way to the right way prescribed by God. if you have need to repent of dead-works please say this prayer with me.

Dear Lord, I realise I have gone my own way for a while. I repent today of all works of the flesh. Please forgive me and cleanse my conscience of all dead works by the Blood of Jesus today. Cleanse me and renew a right spirit within me in Jesus Mighty Name.

CONGRATULATIONS!!! May the Lord Help you to remain steadfast to put to death the work of the flesh.

Shalom peace and life to you.

Ps Ron Chiarelli

Defensiveness

We open our Bibles to know God and knowing God exposes things about ourselves. If you think you need to defend yourself, it is a sure sign that you are not trusting God enough to defend you. Defensiveness is ultimately a faith issue. One clear way it plays out in our lives is through our rebelliousness.

Plants may not care much for pruning. It is necessary however that we periodically prune their leaves and branches because we know that pruned plants are more fruitful. When you prune, you redirect the nutrients to the fruitful parts of the plant.

There is a danger in painting the perfect picture of ourselves because we are human. We are flawed. We are sinful. We are all so filled with pride, self and what we want. We focus on our agenda and emotions (it’s all about us and how we feel) and the selfishness and self-seeking never go away. We must learn to extend grace, not just to others but also to ourselves. We need to submit to pruning. We must learn to live in the shadow of the cross where grace is given and mercy abounds.

“Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.” – I Peter 3:3-4 NKJV

It is said that “hurt people hurt people” and by inference “broken people break people”. By ourselves we are all desperately broken. Instead of focusing on the difficult situations/ persons that we consistently have to deal with in our lives, our focus must be on Christ who is ever sufficient to carry us through it all. While going through the tough time and dealing with the tough people, we may not even realize how much it molds us into being more graceful and ultimately becoming lord Christ-like. We learn to surrender and submit our will and desires to the will of God. We learn to trust God completely and are more conscious of the fact that He is ever present. As these circumstances mold you and shape your virtues and value systems, you become a well of hope that other recognize and are filled by.

“And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—” – Colossians 1:21-22 NKJV

“Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” – Romans 8:7-11 NKJV

When we are defensive and reject the pruning that God gives through the light of His word, we become enemies of God and we are hostile to the gospel. This is not what God expects of us. He does not desire to see us rebel against His law and His ways. It might take a moment for some or might be a process for others but it is always profitable for us to remember that we are better off in Him than when we are apart from Christ while running in rebellion.

When we remain in rebellion, we end up living in fear and self-sufficiency trying to figure out what our agenda is and how to achieve the expectations we have of life. Even when we didn’t know him, He loved us regardless. His utmost desire is that we come to know Him and walk in the liberty and victory of His will and purposes for us.

“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,” – I Timothy 2:5-6 NKJV

Jesus loves us so much that He laid down His life for us. The pattern is obvious: Creation => fall => redemption. Our brokenness, Christ’s sacrifice, our wholeness. The ground is even at the foot of the cross. We all need Jesus baring the magnitude of our sin. Being defensive/ rebellious will only deny us the treasures of His sacrifice.

How then should we live?

We ought to plant ourselves in the word of God so that we know His character and live in response to it. We need to discover our identity in Him to obtain the grace needed to fulfill our days in His will. We need to look at ourselves the way that Christ sees us. Our perspective of His authority in our lives needs to be established knowing that He is a good Father and Judge.

“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. – Colossians 3:12-17 NKJV

Remember that death brings life. When you bury a seed, it needs to die and germinate in order to grow into a plant and bear fruit. Jesus needed to die in order that we have access to eternal life. Similarly, we need to ensure that our rebellion/ defensiveness dies so as to manifest the abundant life that God has in store for us.

Also, we need to always be in tune with the Holy Spirit and in communion with God. Take heed never to pray as a last resort. It is our weapon and an expression of our humility, acknowledging that we need God’s divine assistance. Remain steadfast in God’s presence.

With Love, Esinam.

If Only…

“A person may plan his path, but Adonai directs his steps.” – Proverbs 16:9 CJB

I’m sure that at some point in your life, if not now and especially in these hard times you’ve walked down the “IF ONLY” road. If only I have this new job because it pays better. If only I could change this one thing in my body. If only I could also get married. If only I had children. If only I had a house and/or car. If only I could relocate to another country. If only I could get rid of this difficult person in my life. If only I could cut them off and never have to interact with them again. The list goes on and on…

In many instances we tend to blame our inability to handle these situations on external parties. This could be either because we can’t figure out a solution to the situation or because we refuse to take responsibility for our own actions and inactions. We are so fast to tag another person as the enemy, especially if we can’t have our way with or around them. Our walls go up as soon as we find ourselves in a place of disadvantage regarding a situation we might have assumed was under our control. Just because you have to share your spotlight doesn’t mean the other party will tip you over or overshadow you. Taking this posture we oftentimes end up self-sabotaging and losing out on the potential benefits from the good seeds of hard-work/dedication/commitment we might have sown early on.

“But I tell you, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!” – Matthew 5:44 CJB

The above scripture can be considered a Biblical mandate which separates us from the world. You need to pause and ask yourself, “Why am I acting this way? Why do I feel so offended? Why can’t I show this person compassion/empathy but rather treat them like the enemy? Could it be that I’m just being a difficult person?” After all this reflection, go on to say a prayer.

Anything is a blessing if it causes us to pray.
Charles Spurgeon.

Pray for the opportunity to give God glory. We can give God glory by acknowledging that we need Him.

Rather than fret about all the “if only’s” In our lives and tagging people as the enemy of our progress, how about we trust God to come through for us instead. Mind you, all the energy being used to ask questions and worry can be channeled into trusting God.

““A person whose desire rests on you, you preserve in perfect peace, because he trusts in you.” – Isaiah 26:3 CJB

“I pray that from the treasures of his glory he will empower you with inner strength by his Spirit, so that the Messiah may live in your hearts through your trusting. Also I pray that you will be rooted and founded in love, Now to him who by his power working in us is able to do far beyond anything we can ask or imagine,” – Ephesians 3:16-17, 20 CJB

How about you pray and say: Dear God, I apologize for that moment or season of self-sufficiency where I thought I could handle it on my own. I come to You committing it all into your hands and ask that You use this situation in my life as an opportunity for Your glory, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

We can have hope IF ONLY our trust is in God.

With Love, Esinam.

Let God be the Judge

“And it shall come to pass, when the Lord has done for my Lord according to all the good that He has spoken concerning you, and has appointed you ruler over Israel, that this will be no grief to you, nor offense of heart to my Lord, either that you have shed blood without cause, or that my Lord has avenged himself. But when the Lord has dealt well with my Lord, then remember your maidservant.” Then David said to Abigail: “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! And blessed is your advice and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand. For indeed, as the Lord God of Israel lives, who has kept me back from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, surely by morning light no males would have been left to Nabal!” So David received from her hand what she had brought him, and said to her, “Go up in peace to your house. See, I have heeded your voice and respected your person.” Now Abigail went to Nabal, and there he was, holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. And Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk; therefore she told him nothing, little or much, until morning light. So it was, in the morning, when the wine had gone from Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became like a stone. Then it happened, after about ten days, that the Lord struck Nabal, and he died.” – I Samuel 25:30-38 NKJV

Abigail was wise and reminded David of who had the power to resolve the situation. The Bible describes David as a man after God’s own heart, who was valued by the Lord. In 1 Samuel 24, David had the chance to kill Saul (the reigning king and his archenemy). Saul had also been pursuing David to kill him but notice that David passed up the opportunity to kill Saul when he had the chance to.

“Look, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my eye spared you, and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my Lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’ Moreover, my father, see! Yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the corner of your robe, and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you. Yet you hunt my life to take it. Let the Lord judge between you and me, and let the Lord avenge me on you. But my hand shall not be against you. As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand shall not be against you. After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea? Therefore let the Lord be judge, and judge between you and me, and see and plead my case, and deliver me out of your hand.” – I Samuel 24:10-15 NKJV

David could have killed Saul in his vulnerable state and seeing that Saul was within striking distance, however he didn’t. He trusted God to deal with that situation. Right after this experience, he had this encounter with Nabal and lost it. He nearly killed Nabal the very same way he could have killed Saul. In that moment though, David seemed to have forget briefly that God was able to defend him.

Sometimes just like David, circumstances may cause us to forget what our God is capable of doing. That is why it is necessary that we continually rehearse and never forget the triumphs that God has given to us in the past. God loves us and is for us regardless of the pain and tough situations that we sometimes have to endure. There are times when very bad things may occur and we panic and forget that God will take care of us (if we allow Him to). We end up taking the reins and try to figure it out all by ourselves.

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” – I Peter 5:6-7 NKJV

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV

Our perfections and expectations make us overthink the process and relegate God to the background. We end up stepping out of His will and His presence when we should rather pause, seek Him and get drenched in His presence.

When David is confronted with the truth by Abigail, he immediately had a change of heart and rescinded his decision to attack Nabal. It is best to step down from confronting the situation and rather commit it entirely into God’s hands so He deals with it His way. Just like Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, we can acknowledge that we may desire a certain outcome. However, it’s best if we hand the situation over to the Father and say not my will but Yours be done in my life. Oftentimes we rebel because we lack a heart of humility.

The more we trust in God and practice leaning on His everlasting arm, the easier it is to recognize it when He speaks to us. There are two major lessons from today:

1. God is our defender: No matter the situation we’re faced with, whether it is dealing with an abuser, perpetrator or any difficult person/ situation, justice will neither heal us nor set us free. Albeit, pursuing human justice where accessible is not wrong in itself (especially in cases of abuse). What will set us truly free is knowing that ultimately, God Himself will serve justice.

“I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies. The pangs of death surrounded me, And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid. The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the Lord, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry came before Him, even to His ears.” – Psalms 18:1-6 NKJV

“I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore.” – Psalms 121:1-8 NKJV

2. Only God can change hearts: Dealing with a difficult boss/ family member/ spouse/ child, etc can be hard. Years of trying and feeling frustrated does not change the person. Changing the heart of a person is not a physical battle but rather the job of the Holy Spirit. May God redeem our loved ones and restore every bleeding/ broken relationship. When God does the work, He does it completely because He sees, He hears and He knows; He knows the end from the beginning.

“The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.” – Proverbs 21:1 NKJV

No matter how out of control things may seem, it’s never out of God’s control. You can always take refuge in Him and let Him be the judge.

With Love, Esinam.

Discernment

We’re continuing our lessons from the Abigail series and today our focal point of discussion will be discernment. Let me begin by sharing a story of a young lad who prides himself in the fact that no adult dared order him around.

He portrayed an attitude of pride/ arrogance so much so that no one could speak to him, talk less of giving advice or even correcting him when he was wrong. People literally always walked on eggshells while they are around him. This scenario is a glaring case of lack of humility which would inevitably amount to rebellious tendencies. Looking back at the book of 1 Samuel 25, we realize how similar such an attitude is to that of Nabal.

Abigail, his wife on the other hand had a reputation of discernment and wisdom hence why the servant easily approached and spoke to her about the situation Nabal had caused with his harsh response to David’s request. For someone of Nabal’s caliber (per the scripture) it wouldn’t have been out of place to have a right hand man (in the form of an advisor, personal assistant or a guard of some sort) whom the servant could have reported the situation to.

From the servants report to Abigail, we can sense hints of fear because David was well known as a man of war and he sensed impending danger that could potentially destroy Nabal and his entire household, servants inclusive. Albeit he trusted that Abigail possessed the capacity to handle the situation wisely.

Abigail’s options could have been to ignore, hide, flee or mismanage the situation but she acknowledged the enormity of the blunder that her husband had stirred up and whizzed into action. Her first instinct was to diffuse the situation. She immediately mapped out a strategy of damage control. Abigail did not respond to foolishness with foolishness or repay anger for anger. This was not a situation of an eye for an eye or a tooth for a tooth.

Let’s reflect on what discernment means quickly. Discernment could mean taking the time to wisely consider a situation and choosing a wiser option. It could also mean having a filter to decipher what to allow and disallow. Discernment and wisdom could be considered as two sides of the same coin.

“A wise-hearted person is said to have discernment, and sweetness of speech adds to learning.” Proverbs 16:21 CJB

“Therefore, my dear brothers, let every person be quick to listen but slow to speak, slow to get angry; for a person’s anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness!” James 1:19-20 CJB

Essentially, from the above Bible references, discernment simply implies not being in a huge hurry to dish out an answer but being more concerned about what God thinks about a situation as opposed to succumbing to the pressure of what people would think within a time frame.

Just like Abigail, a discerning woman (or man) weighs and balances their choices and doesn’t just jump at every opportunity. Such a person will consider first how a decision ultimately fits into the will of God for their lives. They also a keen to analyse whether their decisions disrupt their schedule/ routine and it’s ripple effect on their relationship with God, family, spouse, children, ministry, career, etc.

You can be a good decision maker apart from the Lord but you cannot be discerning apart from the Lord.

1 Samuel 24:18-22 elaborates how much food and supply Abigail packed up from the household pantry to pacify David and subvert his agenda of destruction on Nabal’s household. Obviously that was available provision which could have been used used to cater for David’s request in the first place. And even if provision was limited for whatever valid reason hence the initial decline by Nabal, Abigail still deemed it wise to sacrifice the supply they had available to ensure that peace reigned between the two men.

From versus 23-31, Abigail is articulate and passionate in her response to David. She had done nothing wrong however she took the blame and humbly asked David to hold her responsible for what had happened. Even her posture before him emphasized this humility. She also reminded David of who he was as the chosen of the Lord.

Discernment is an outflow of knowing the Lord. To be wise you must first have reverence for the Lord. However discernment is not something that happens automatically, you need to consciously and consistently work at it with knowledge and experience. You need to mature in the faith and grow from drinking milk, solid food and bones.

“The fear of Adonai is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of holy ones is understanding.”Proverbs 9:10 CJB

“We have much to say about this subject, but it is hard to explain, because you have become sluggish in understanding. For although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the very first principles of God’s Word all over again! You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who has to drink milk is still a baby, without experience in applying the Word about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, for those whose faculties have been trained by continuous exercise to distinguish good from evil.” Hebrews 5:11-14 CJB

In order to be discerning, you need to ask yourself certain questions:

When should I speak?
What is my motivation? (Is it pride, anger, offense or self-gratification?)
How can I bring God glory in this situation?

“Now if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all generously and without reproach; and it will be given to him. But let him ask in trust, doubting nothing; for the doubter is like a wave in the sea being tossed and driven by the wind. Indeed that person should not think that he will receive anything from the Lord, because he is double-minded, unstable in all his ways.” James 1:5-8 CJB

“And this is my prayer: that your love may more and more overflow in fullness of knowledge and depth of discernment, so that you will be able to determine what is best and thus be pure and without blame for the Day of the Messiah, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Yeshua the Messiah — to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9-11 CJB

May we cultivate the virtue of discernment in every sphere of our lives as we strive to walk in love and fulfill purpose. God bless you.

With Love, Esinam.

Lessons from Abigail

Right application only flows out of right understanding. Studying the scripture is meant to help us understand who God is and build upon the relationship we have with Him.

From 1 Samuel 25:1, we are told that the Prophet Samuel had died and had been buried after which David continued to the wilderness of Paran.

SAMUEL: A prophet of God who had lived out his purpose based on a covenant his mother had entered with God. Had anointed David as King of Israel and served as a spiritual covering over him.

SAUL: He was still King. God had taken His anointing from him because of Saul’s disobedience. Saul’s jealousy for David had grown and he had attempted to kill David several times already.

DAVID: We know from previous scripture how David had been anointed by Samuel as King upon God’s instruction. A man of faith and courage who obeyed the Lord. Had defeated Goliath. David is on the run from the anger of Saul.

NABAL: Described as a harsh and evil man; ill/ badly behaved. However the scripture also makes us understand that he was a wealthy man. (1 Samuel 25:2-3)

ABIGAIL: She was discerning and beautiful, a woman of grace and she was Nabal’s wife. (1 Samuel 25:2-3)

From 1 Samuel 25:4-9, David, based on a previous encounter with Nabal and his men sent his servants with a request to source food for their sustenance. He assumed that he had previously been of help to Nabal’s men so it was only right for Nabal to return the favour. Notice that scripture also informs us that it was a festive season and David was well aware that Nabal had provision to be of assistance.

However, verses 10-11 reveal not just Nabal’s response but also gives us a glimpse of the state of his heart. He arrogantly questions who David is and selfishly declines any help towards him. From verse 3, we know that Nabal is of the house of Caleb of the tribe of Judah from which we may infer that himself and David were kinsmen (David was also of the tribe of Judah). So why deny a kinsman help and pretend not to know who he was/ question his existence?

Could it be that Nabal was trying to act politically correct so as not to offend Saul, the reigning King and also an archenemy of David the anointed one?

We see in verse 12-13 how Nabal vexed David with his response and attitude and David immediately girded his team to retaliate.

But what occurs from verse 14 through to verse 35 is the turnaround of this story because of Abigail. What can God do with a woman like Abigail who decides to be a woman of discernment, grace and beauty? God goes on to save Nabal and the men of his household through her (verses 32-35).

The two major lessons we learn from Abigail are:

1. How to deal with difficult people (How to respond differently to the difficult people in our lives)

After Nabal’s harsh response, David also towed the same line by arming his men to retaliate. Abigail based off of her experience and knowledge on how to manage difficult people chose the peaceful approach to correct the situation.

“A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1 NKJV

What did Abigail do?

a. She listened (vs 14-17).
b. She acted promptly (vs 18).
c. She diffused the situation (vs 23-27).
d. She sought an eternal perspective (28-31).
e. She trusted God to fix the situation (vs 36-38).

Essentially, whereas Nabal blatantly ignored, Abigail acknowledged and honoured the anointing upon David’s life which influenced the line of actions as stated above.

2. How to avoid being difficult people ourselves.

Avoid responding like Nabal. We may ask ourselves the following questions:

⁃ Am I sometimes impossible to deal with?
⁃ What are the things that make me hard to deal with?
⁃ Are people not honest with me for fear that I will blow up or take it the wrong way?
⁃ Do I answer roughly or graciously?

“Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Matthew 12:34 NKJV

Instead of asking God to fix our mouth, we should ask God to fix our heart. If we are convicted we must embrace it because it brings out the Christ-likeness in us when we seek to be more like Christ. Don’t reject, suppress or dismiss that conviction. We must allow the Holy Spirit to work in us and through us so that we can extend that grace to others as well.

With Love, Esinam.

Seek God

A must read for all christians all over the world. What father of charismatic movement said in Ghana (Credit: Opera News)

I beg you to read what the father of the charismatic movement in Ghana has for the entire church. Archbishop Nicholas Duncan Williams.

I want to use this medium to tell about a Revelation I had about our Church.

I know some persons may attack me because of this maybe due to guilty conscience or whatsoever. But I have to take this burden off my neck and have my conscience free.

God spoke to me expressly concerning the Church and I wept bitterly after he finished.

It all happened this way; We lost a very good brother in Church to a mysterious sickness. This brother was too young and very dedicated. He was just about 22 and was a great lifeline in both the choir and the youth department. He was a born again child of God and I was always challenged by his level of dedication. When he fell seriously ill we prayed. The church prayed on many occasions seeking God’s healing for him, but at last, we lost him. This is one death that has pained my spirit even up till today and would never cease to.

Prior to this, there was another sister we lost. She was very dedicated too and her husband was also a great Child of God. They were without children for many years after marriage, but they never wavered in their faith. But suddenly, she became pregnant and the church was in great joy. But we lost her during the child birth and upon the prayers, tears and pleading to God to spare her life, we lost her.

A lot of deaths in the church which were not so before now and situations that refuse to respond to prayers nowadays which were not also like this before now prompted me to seek God to know what has gone wrong.

Specifically, my dear friend’s death made me cry and still cry bitterly till today.

I embarked on a 33 days prayer because I wanted to be restored from my weaknesses and failures and also to know the reason for various negative happenings in our Churches, and why such negative incidences don’t obey our prayers anymore. Throughout the period of my fervent prayers with tears, I heard nothing from God, but on the last day of my prayers, being so weak and feeling God was never going to tell me anything, He appeared to me in the form of an old man and he told me things that made me still beg for mercy till today.

Here is it:

He said to me, ” You have requested to know and I will tell you. The gathering you call a church is no longer a church before my eyes but a place of tussle for power, position, fame, division, superiority, supremacy and authority. Many Shepherds who were supposed to protect the sheep from Lions have become the Lions devouring the very sheep handed into their care. The Hearts of the people are divided against each other and brothers are seeking the downfall of brothers for the sake of position and authority. The alter of the church has become a boxing ring where Shepherds, Pastors and Deacons/Deaconesses fight each other fiercely both with punches and fouls words to become the last man standing and the superior to all. Pastors drag pastors in church to take over my alter for their personal interests.

The church is divided among themselves choosing leaders based on what they stand to gain materially rather than what they stand to gain spiritually. Pastors fight Pastors for positions and members fight Pastors for possession of the church.

Brethren who were of the same fold now divide against each other and pray to me against each other seeking the downfall of each other from my hands.

The sacred things of my temple are being used for selfish purposes and the occultic members of the world are now the people judging the sacred matters of the church in court and taking decisions for the church to make peace, yet my people wouldn’t stop fighting themselves.

The church has become a war and battle ground where leaders fight for superiority and power due to quest for financial benefits and control over whatever and whoever they want to control. I am very bitter with the Church .”

Now this is the part that shocked me. He said; “Because of this, I no longer listen to their prayers as a church, but I only listen to individual prayers from a very few of her members who are still burning in desire to know me. The prayers from them as a church to me has become an abomination before me because the hearts from which the prayers come from are not United, but filled with division and hatred towards one another.

When they pray to me as a church demanding for solution to situations, I tend to see a group of people who pretend to be together, but in the real sense, they are against each other and against me as well. They don’t pray for mercy and unity, rather they pray to me to deal with their own brothers and sisters because no one wants to be a subordinate to the other. Everyone wants to be the superior and the one gaining.

I have decided to only listen to individual prayers from sincere hearts, not a prayer from a group of hypocrites who call on me from their lips, but inside their hearts lies wickedness, jealousy, envy, false witnessing, coverteousness, ungodly plans and great division.

That is why they pray for healing, I become slow to it. They pray for blessings, I tend to bless only a few with sincere hearts.

Their offerings, tithes and seeds have become filthy before me because they come from unclean hearts and hands that have shed blood.

I have decided to be calling home the upright ones in the church in death through various ways – Some through sickness, and others through situations I deem proper. I would have allowed them to stay, but I don’t want to lose them. So I take them home while they are in good standing with me. Cry no more for your brother and friend was called home by me just like I have called other children of mine.

The time is too short and judgement day is at the corner. You should stand firm and don’t take your eyes off me for the evil day is very near.

But as for the Church, a lot will happen and is yet to come, unless they come back together in one heart like in the days of old and seek me. And I will forgive them and heal their hearts and heal their lives and heal their lands. But if they fail to do so, I will deal with them in my own way. Go and tell them what I have told you . Tell them that I am He that was, He that is, and He that is to come.

These were His words to me then I woke up.

I have passed it across. Please help me forward and share it. Don’t stop this message or else you be held responsible for stopping His message to His people. I know I would not have been given an opportunity to tell the church this in a major national program like Peniel and the likes, but I thank God for this medium.

I rest my case.

From Opera News

The Kingdom of God

Praise the Lord, Hallelujah! I trust that my God has been good to you, your household and all that concerns you. Today by the Grace of God I want to share with you one important truth of our Christian faith. The Kingdom of God is one of the most unthought of realities of our Christian faith. It is one subject that many believers don’t think about. If our Lord Jesus is King of Kings then certainly He has a kingdom.

In an attempt to draw your attention to this truth we will be looking at what Jesus said about the kingdom of God. Jesus likened the Kingdom to many things through parables so we can picture it and relate to it. Our journey to know the Kingdom of God starts in The Gospel according to Mark chapter 4. And here Jesus speaks about the parable of the sower.

The Bible says: Mark 4:3-8 NKJV

“Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it.

Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away.

And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

The parable of the sower deals with four areas of reception for the seed from the sower

1. The way side

2. The stony ground

3. Among the thorns

4. On good ground

Now the four states listed above are the heart conditions of four individuals. Jesus explains further in verse 13 – 20 that the seed that the sower sows is the Word of God. He explained that there are those by the wayside where the word is sown and Satan comes immediately to take away the word that is sown in their hearts.

There are paths of righteousness laid for every believer, when you are walking on that path you are in the will and purpose of God. When you choose to not to walk the path you become a stander-by. People in this category cannot retain the word of God in their hearts. They are too open to Satan hence he can easily walk in and out of their lives.

The second category of people Jesus spoke about are the ones where the seed is sown on stony ground who when they hear the word immediately receive it with gladness, they have no roots in themselves and so the word endures only for a time. Afterward when trouble or persecution comes for the sake of the word they immediately stumble. Every believer from the day you receive Christ Jesus must endeavor to be firmly planted, rooted and grounded in Him.

“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.”Colossians 2:6-7 NKJV

“Those who are planted in the house of the Lord Shall flourish in the courts of our God.” Psalms 92:13 NKJV

The third category of heart condition are ones sown among thorns, they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. The wisdom of the world is to seek and prioritize all other things above the word of God. The wisdom of God according to Matthew 6:33 is to seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these other things shall be added unto you. The wisdom of God will cause the word of God to be fruitful in you. God deals with us according to the amount of knowledge (word) we have in us.

A few months ago my business partners just pulled out of our dealings and shut down their platforms to me, it became a source of great worry to me because my cash flow was just cut off. My wife and I kept praying about it but nothing seemed to change. Just in the midst of that the Archbishop beckoned to me one Sunday morning to see him after service. I did and he said to me he had been praying about the youth in the church for some time, and that each time he prays the Lord tell him am the one to pastor the youth. This was far from my plans but I said amen and took up the assignment of pastoring the youth church. I became consumed with their spiritual well-being, their spiritual growth and how God can use me to touch and change their lives. When my focus shifted to God’s business suddenly there was break through in my business. The door that was closed to me suddenly no longer even mattered because God had opened a bigger door for me to own my own platform. When you prioritize God over all other things you put God under obligation to take care of your needs.

The final heart condition are the ones sown on good ground, these are those who hear the word, accept it and bear fruit: some thirty fold, some sixty and some a hundred. This category are those who receive, believe and walk by faith on God’s word. The thirty fruits/ blessings are for those who obey God’s instructions that pertains to interpersonal relationships- love your neighbor as yourself. The sixtyfold blessing to those who give and support the kingdom of God and it’s advancement. Praying kingdom advancement prayers, engaging in soul winning, building memorials for the kingdom of God and the church of Christ Jesus. The hundred fold blessing comes from direct and swift obedience to the voice of God. In Genesis 26:12 God told Isaac not to go to Egypt but remain in the land he was, he obeyed and sowed in that land and in that same year he reaped a hundred fold because the Lord blessed him.

The level of blessings you enjoy in the kingdom of God is primarily dependent on you. God is always looking for someone to bless. Let he/she that has an ear let him/her her the word of the Lord.

Shalom, peace and life to you.

Pastor Ron Chiarelli

IS GOD DEAF?

One day, a young lady called Rita got into a serious debate with her colleague, Debbie over a kind of prayer she (Rita) saw being administered in a church. I happened to have been there because I had gone to their shop to buy a few items.

The aforementioned young ladies were apparently watching a church service on TV together and the pastor shouted as he prayed and made his members also do that authoritatively. That scene got Rita infuriated and for that matter she made the following comments instantaneously, “See these ignorant people. See what they’re doing. How can you shout in prayer? Is God deaf?”. And she laughed arrogantly.

She asked these multiple questions to register her anger at the man of God especially because after all, he was the leader and as a result he was the one “misleading“ the people.

Debbie tried explaining why the man of God said that prayer without a biblical support. When Debbie realized Rita was not convinced with her explanation and as a result she (Rita) maintained her position, Debbie decided to be quiet over the matter.

I smiled and lovingly asked Rita if the prayer in question was wrong. She immediately replied ”Well, prayer is good but that very one we were talking about is wrong because a pastor told me we don’t need to shout when we pray, for God isn’t deaf and considering my background, I believed him”.

What do you personally think about this kind of authoritative prayer? Do you believe in it or not and why?

Most believers have cheated themselves in terms of prayer. We pray but we are limited to a kind of prayer or some prayers. Unfortunately, we don’t know there are different kinds of prayer. Apostle Paul buttresses this point – Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit…. (Ephesians 6:18). Notice he said, praying with all prayer or different kinds of prayer. Who prays this prayer? The saints of course. Why? It’s our right. We may have prayed only one kind of prayer for long without results. What could be the reason? Ignorance of course. When one kind of prayer doesn’t work, you sustain a higher level of spiritual intelligence and switch to another kind.

The prayer the ladies were talking about is theologically called “the prayer of faith”. This kind of prayer is result-oriented. Here, you talk to your challenges and not to God in the name of Jesus. It’s a business between you and the “mountain confronting you”. In fact, it’s an authoritative kind of prayer. A very audacious one at that. Mark 11:23-24 declares “ For verily, I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain (problem), be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass, he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore, I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them and ye shall have them.”. These are the words of Jesus Himself. So we speak to the mountain in faith and expect results and they come. You don’t need to be a pastor to administer this kind of prayer when the need arises. As a believer you are good to go.

Before you pray this kind of prayer, you have to know who you are in God. We are kings and queens. Royals give commands and their requests get executed. This prayer is built on the word of God and that’s why Paul said “let the word of God dwell richly in you“. Know the word and get results. Don’t pray without the word. In the prayer of faith, I get earthly blessings and not celestial ones. I change things on earth. I don’t expect to see angels in the prayer of faith.

Know that you have enough faith to cause changes (Romans 12:3). The faith you have is the faith the Apostles of old had ( 2 Corinthians 4:13) and above all the faith that Jesus had is the same faith that you have (Galatians 2:20, Mark 11:22).

Now, with the knowledge above, as you pray this kind of prayer, be specific. Mention the name of your challenge. Don’t say every power fighting me. If it’s fibroid, you may say, you spirit of fibroid, I command you to be gone in the name of Jesus. You fibroid, in the name of Jesus, catch fire! If you prayed this prayer in faith and authoritatively, believe it’s dead and gone and give God thanks. Whether there are manifestations or not , don’t worry. Yours is to pray. In some cases, the spirits may manifest instantaneously but in others they may not and yet there will still be results. Jesus prayed for some people and on their way home, the Bible says they were made whole.

As you pray and ‘doubt of the mind or the spirit’ arises in the form of ‘will it happen or not?’ or your faith staggers, cast out that spirit authoritatively and be bold. Why do we shout? Because we are dealing with daring, stubborn and ominous spirits who need to see anger in your eyes and voice before they depart. So I like shouting under the spirit when I am confronting demonic beings and they go. Shout is relative. Someone’s shout may not be the way I shout and still that demon will give way because it knows you’re coming in the name of Jesus.

What’s important here is use your authority in faith and speak to that ancient altar to go down and it will go down in the name of Jesus. However if the altar doesn’t go down you’ll have to resort to another kingdom weapon to deal with the issue at hand. But the prayer of faith reallly produces tremendous results, for the fervent and sincere prayer of the righteous man availeth much.(James 5:16)

Don’t always expect God to come and deal with what He knows you can handle at your level. Wake up, put on your priestly garment and make audacious declarations over your loved ones, yourself and your challenges with the word of God and expect mighty results.

I can’t wait to hear your testimonies.

I love you all!

Dr. David Tobi Ogoudou