Heaven on Earth

Programming your way out of Barrenness.

2010-09-29T03:20:00.000-07:00

Fruitfulness is God's nature and plan. It is ordained by Him right from the cradle of mankind for procreation and establishment of His purposes on earth. If you are given birth to, it is expected that you give birth as well. That is what informs why God gave it as a command to man (Gen. 1:26-28).

Don't make any problem look bigger than your God; don't get weighed down simply because of the number of years you have been married without child or how many years you toiled but no major breakthrough or success. I want to let you know that God is not a man that should lie (Num 23:19; Mal. 3:6) Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is anything too hard for me?" Jer. 32:27.

Testimonies abound of faithful men and women both in the scriptures and present world, who had stood firmly on God's word despite negative medical verdicts to claim their fruitfulness, and they returned with their children.
However, it is important for you to realized that there are four major scriptural platforms that have to do with your God ordained position of fruitfulness. One of these is the Creation Platform. You are created and certified by God to be fruitful. To multiply. At creation, God said, "Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness..." He then gave a verdict, "be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth... Gen. 1: 26-28. God created one man and put inside that man what it takes to procreate. God's design is that through you other people will be brought forth.
Another platform is Covenant platform. The guarantee for your fruitfulness has already been settled by covenant between God and you. ..."Ye shall serve the Lord your God and He shall bless... Nothing shall cast their young, nor be barren..." Exo. 23:25, 26. And this covenant can never be broken (Ps. 89:34).

Also by Prophetic Platform, you can lay hold on your miracle children or contract etc. Prophets are human instruments that God use to enforce His will on the earth (Isa. 54:1-3) For instance, Hannah prayed severally at Shiloh but could only receive confirmation of her request through the prophetic seal of Eli (1sam. 1:12-20).

Finally, through the platform of Redemption. You have been redeemed from the curses of the law including barrenness (Gal. 3:13). If you are born again, you have been re-connected back to all the blessings found in Christ (John 15:5).

The way out:
It begins with understanding your position in God. That's your redemptive right. You are a beloved of God who is entitled to all His blessings. You hurts is His hurts and HE will never leave you alone (Deut. 7:13).
- Locate right keys from God's word that have to do with your present situation. His word is yea and amen.

- Then go to God in prayer. Present your case to Him, "produce your cause, bring forth strong reasons..." Isa. 41:21; Ps 65:2.

- Confront the situation. Speak against the evil spirit of barrenness and stagnation. curse it to the root.
- Proclaim victory. Speak out your expectation; death and life are in the power of your tongue. Call forth your children and whatever you want (Prov. 18:21).

- Take corresponding action in line with your declaration. Behave like you already have your children, for God weighs your actions before hearing your voice (1 Sam. 2:3).

- Finally, be thankful to Him. Thanksgiving creates in you a sense of assurance that your prayer is being answered (Rom. 4:20).

Courtesy: Bishop David Abioye (Winners Chapel, Abuja).

What Life Is All About?

2010-09-01T07:58:00.000-07:00

What Life Is All About

Life isn't about keeping score. It's not about how many friends you have. Or how many people call you. Or how accepted or unaccepted you are. Not about if you have plans this weekend. Or if you're alone. It isn't about who you're dating, who you use to date, how many people you've dated, or if you haven't been with anyone at all. It isn't about who you have kissed. It's not about sex. It isn't about who your family is or how much money they have. Or what kind of car you drive. Or where you're sent to school.

It's not about how beautiful or ugly you are. Or what clothes you wear, what shoes you have on, or what kind of music you listen to. It's not about if your hair is blonde, red, black, brown, or green. Or if your skin is too light or too dark.

It's not about what grades you get, how smart you are, how smart everyone else thinks you are, or how smart standardized tests say you are. Or if this teacher likes you, or if this guy/girl likes you. Or what clubs you're in, or how good you are at "your" sport. It's not about representing your whole being on a piece of paper and seeing who will "accept the written you".

But life is about who you love and who you hurt. It's about who you make happy or unhappy purposefully. It's about keeping or betraying trust. It's about friendship, used as sanctity, or as a weapon. It's about what you say and mean, maybe hurtful, maybe heartening. About starting rumors and contributing to petty gossip. It's about what judgments you pass and why. And who your judgments are spread to.

It's about who you've ignored with full control and intention. It's about jealousy, fear, pain, ignorance, and revenge. It's about carrying inner hate and love, letting it grow and spreading it.

But most of all, it's about using your life to touch or poison other people's hearts in such a way that could never occurred alone. Only you choose the way these hearts are affected and those choices are what life is all about.

An Authentic Christian

2010-07-24T06:29:00.000-07:00

An Authentic Christian
by Taffi Dollar

About a month ago, one of our readers wrote me saying:

Taffi, I have a friend who is a new Christian. I thank God she finally made that decision! However, she often complains about how phony some Christians are. I heard you wrote a book on authenticity. I would like you to explain what it means to be an authentic Christian.

It sounds as though your friend may have experienced Christians who have yet to fully discover their identity in Christ. When we become born again, we are new creatures. Our spirits have been made new. However, our minds still need to be renewed by the Word of God, which is a process that takes place over time. Since your friend is a new Believer, I suggest she find a Bible-based church, where the Word of God is being taught with understanding, so that she can begin the process of renewing her mind to the things of God.

To be authentic means “to be real,” “to be certified,” and “to be proven.” It is “verifiable evidence of what someone or something really is.” As Christians, we cannot model ourselves after the images we see around us in the media and think we are being authentic. We must discover who we are in God’s eyes. We have to locate ourselves (our flaws, our weaknesses, our talents, and our strengths) and decide where to go from there, as we discover the person God has created.

When we do not know who we are or why we are here on this earth, we can easily be defined by others, which can be damaging. It can warp our self- image and confidence. With this in mind, what is the image we should adapt as our personal reality? How can we create a new frame of identity reference for ourselves—one that allows us to embrace our uniqueness? The answer is simple: by tracing our self-image back to its original source, which is God. We were all created for a distinct purpose; and as individuals, we have gifts, talents, and abilities that enable us to carve out a place for ourselves in this world without sacrificing our authenticity.

Just like we have a physical image, there is an inner image we cannot see. This is where our connection with God comes in. Our true image traces back to the mind of God, who created every person in His image. This is essential to understanding our identity.

The Word of God is like a mirror that we can look in to see the reflection of who we really are. And if we gaze into the mirror of God’s Word long enough to receive the images of peace, joy, faith, love, prosperity, wholeness, soundness, and healing reflected back at us, we will eventually find ourselves becoming more and more aware of these realities rather than the negative aspects of life often found in today’s society.

Our genuine image and purpose are wrapped up in something much greater than what we see in popular culture. It is the worth, treasure, and esteem that only comes from God. It is love, peace, and wholeness. It is the true essence of authenticity, and it is inside each of us.

To learn more about being an authentic Christian, purchase my book Authentic: Dare to Be Real and discover the real you.

POEMS

2010-07-23T05:44:00.000-07:00

NATURE'S IMPERATIVE

By: Charles Udokang

THE CENTER PIECE OF LIFE IS DEATH

THIS SOUNDS DOOM AND LOOMS AS CLEAR AS DEATH

BUT DEATH BEMOTHERS LIFE AND BIRTH

AS LIFE BEFATHERS DEATH AND BIRTH

DEATH IS THE THRESHOLD OF LIFE AND RESURRECTION

AS RESURRECTION IS THE FRUIT OF LIFE AND DEATH

“IT IS FINISHED” IS A ‘LIFE WORD’ THAT SPELLS DEATH

BUT IN THAT DEATH IS THE BIRTH OF LIFE AND RESURRECTION

CHRIST HAS DIED, CHRIST HAS RISEN, CHRIST WILL COME AGAIN

THESE ARE WORDS OF HOPE, OF JOY AND GAIN

BUT DEATH, NOT BIRTH BEFOUNDS THIS MYSTERY OF FAITH

TO LAY BARE THE MESSAGE OF FAITH IN DEATH

HOW FAITHFUL IS CHARLES IN THE FACE OF DEATH

HOW RESIGNED ARE YOU WHEN FACED WITH CHALLENGE OF DEATH

CONTROL, DENIAL, SELF MASTERY ARE NOT THE BEST

SURRENDER, ACCEPT, ADMIT AND BE AT REST

SLEEP, DIE AND FULFILL YOUR DEEPEST CALL

FOR LIFE HAS NOT FAILED BUT PLANTED TO BLOOM

IN RESPONSE AND SUBMISSION TO NATURE’S CALL

TILL RESURRECTION DAWNS IN DEATH’S GLOOM

PROFILE OF FAITH: RUTH AND EXAMPLE OF OBEDIENCE

2010-07-20T09:47:00.000-07:00

Wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God" (Ruth 1:16).For centuries, men and women uniting in holy matrimony have looked to Ruth's famous words as a standard of unfailing devotion to each other. Although we live more than 3,000 years after Ruth, we can almost feel her emotions as we hear these words repeated in the modern marriage ceremony. Truly her words are timeless.Few examples can compare to that of Ruth's devotion to Naomi. Ruth's loyal devotion can inspire us to remain faithful to God, His truth and His Church.Blessing out of affliction

Ruth's story begins in Bethlehem, in Judah, when a father and mother and their two sons strike out for greener pastures. Their homeland and people were suffering from a severe shortage of food and water.This famine didn't come upon the land just by chance. There were reasons for these dark days in Israel, then ruled by judges: "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25).One Bible scholar describes this epoch: "The period of the judges was between the initial conquest of Palestine under Joshua and the establishment of the monarchy under Saul. It was a time of moral and political chaos in Israel with no strong central government or leader. The people repeatedly turned away from God and neighboring peoples constantly harassed and invaded the disorganized nation" (F.B. Huey, Jr., The Expositor's Bible Dictionary, Vol. 3, p. 509).God had warned that, if the Israelites forgot His covenant, He would allow persecution and starvation and other physical deprivations (See Deuteronomy 28).It was during such a stressful time that the members of a humble family in Israel decided they must live as aliens in a foreign land, Moab, on the other side of the Jordan River.There was little food in Bethlehem and bleak prospects of garnering any. On the other hand, Moab was a fertile region with plenty of rain, and that land provided a haven for many who were hungry.
So it was that Elimelech, Naomi, Mahlon and Chilion, all members of an Israelitish family, packed their belongings and headed east to a fertile garden in Moab. There they settled and were blessed to find food and shelter.More misfortuneBut time and chance take their toll on everyone, even faithful Elimelech's family. Tragedy struck. First Elimelech died, apparently before his time.Suffering from the shock of life's frailty, at the same time bearing the weight of responsibility of carrying on the family name, both sons took Moabite wives. Mahlon wed Ruth; Chilion married Orpah (Ruth 1:4, 4:10).

Misfortune struck again, and Naomi lost her two sons. Naomi was disheartened and determined to return to Bethlehem, for "she had heard in the coun-try of Moab that the LORD had visited His people in giving them bread" (Ruth 1:6). She also realized that, in a foreign land, a wife without her husband as provider would find herself in desperate straits.At first, Naomi assumed her daughters-in-law should return with her (Ruth 1:7). But then, as she considered her plight and options, she realized that her faithful Moabite daughters-in-law would undergo extreme difficulty finding new husbands in Israel. She urged them to remain in their land with their kinsmen and religion (Ruth 1:8, 9).Ruth and Orpah both could have returned to Bethlehem with Naomi. But only Ruth chose to remain with her, even though her prospects of finding a husband were not good and she would live as a widow in a foreign land. Ruth's determination to stay with Naomi was eloquent testimony to the sterling example Naomi had set for her daughters-in-law.Naomi's heartfelt urging that Ruth and Orpah return to Moab had to be a touching scene. Naomi told Ruth: "'Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.' But Ruth said: 'Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me'" (Ruth 1:15-17).Orpah returned to her homeland while Naomi and Ruth continued on the road to Bethlehem. Upon their arrival, the town buzzed with excitement, recognizing that one of the two women was Naomi. The women exclaimed, "'Is this Naomi?' But she said unto them, 'Do not call me Naomi [meaning "pleasant"]; call me Mara ["bitterly dealt with"], for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the LORD has brought me home again empty. The Almighty has afflicted me'" (Ruth 1:19-21).So it was that faithful Naomi returned to Bethlehem with her Moabite daughter-in-law as the barley harvest was in full swing. Although Ruth couldn't know it then, her future blessings would spring from these afflictions.

Finding favor at harvesttime
The time of the return of Naomi and Ruth to Bethlehem was providential, for it was harvesttime and they had no food. The barley harvest and subsequent wheat harvest were their best chance for finding sustenance. It was during these gatherings that Ruth labored in Boaz's field. Ruth's attitude while laboring in the fields, gathering and winnowing grain, served as a model for later generations of Israelite women.Little wonder that the book of Ruth would be read in synagogues centuries later during the Feast of Weeks, a yearly festival that concluded the wheat harvest (A.S. Geden, The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, Vol. 4, p. 2528). This celebration was also known as Pentecost ("fiftieth [day]") to the New Testament Church (Acts 2), and it prophetically symbolized Jesus Christ's harvest of Christian lives (Matthew 9:36-38).Ruth, in deference to her mother-in-law Naomi, requested permission to go alone into the fields to gather leftover grain: "Please let me go to the field, and glean heads of grain after him in whose sight I may find favor."Naomi replied to Ruth: "Go, my daughter" (Ruth 2:2).

The Scripture provided a precedent for the custom of gleaning. "The law expressly allowed the poor the right to glean in the fields (i.e., in the corners of the fields; Leviticus 19:9, 10; 23:22; Deuteronomy 24:19-21), but the owners of the fields were not always cooperative. A hard day's work under the hot sun frequently netted only a small amount of grain" (F.B. Huey Jr., The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Vol. 3, p. 527).God had guided Ruth to the field of Elimelech's kinsman, Boaz. Boaz's neighbors well knew his character, holding him in high esteem (Ruth 2:4). The very word Boaz means "in him is strength" or "man of strength." He lived up to his name.

Good advice
So it was that Boaz met Ruth, and would protect her and provided for her. "Then Boaz said to Ruth, 'You will listen, my daughter, will you not? Do not go to glean in another field, nor go from here, but stay close by my young women. Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them.'"Then she fell on her face, bowed down to the ground, and said to him, 'Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?'"And Boaz answered and said to her, 'It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before. The LORD repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge" (Ruth 2:8-12).Boaz had instructed the young men working for him to let Ruth glean not just in the corners but even among the sheaves, where she could gather much more grain than was otherwise possible. He also told them to drop some wheat on the ground for her to find.Gleaning turned out to be far more productive for Ruth than she had imagined possible. She brought home to Naomi a good supply of winnowed grain, enough for several weeks. In those times, someone could expect to glean only a few pounds of grain per day. Her amount from gleaning shows the regard the young men had for Boaz and his instructions to allow some of their harvested grain to fall to the ground in Ruth's path. It also speaks well of Ruth's diligence.Naomi was pleased with such favor shown by Boaz to her daughter-in-law Ruth: "Blessed be he of the LORD, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead! The man is a relative of ours, one of our near kinsmen" (Ruth 2:20).Ruth honored Naomi's words of encouragement and gleaned "until the end" of the barley and wheat harvests (Ruth 2:23).

Redemption and blessings
Naomi began to see, once again, that God had not forgotten her. This was a critical time for her and Ruth, one that held exciting promise, especially for the daughter-in-law. Boaz was indeed a kinsman of Elimelech, Naomi's dead husband."Under the Levirate law (referred to by Naomi in Ruth 1:1-13), when a man died childless his brother was bound to raise an heir to him by the widow. This law extended to the next of kin, hence Naomi's plan. Ruth, by her action in verse 7, was claiming this right" (David and Pat Alexander, Eerdmans' Handbook to the Bible, pp. 227, 228).Naomi's plan included careful instructions for Ruth, and her words enhanced the aura of romance: "My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you? Now Boaz, whose young women you were with, is he not our kinsman? In fact, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. Therefore wash yourself and anoint yourself, put on your best garment and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking."Then it shall be, when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies; and you shall go in, uncover his feet, and lie down; and he will tell you what you should do. And [Ruth] said to her, 'All that you say to me I will do'" (Ruth 3:1-5).What a trusting attitude Ruth had. Remember, she was not an Israelite; she was a Moabite, a gentile. God was working out His great purpose through Ruth, whose heart and mind were those of a spiritual Israelite led by God's Holy Spirit (compare Romans 2:29 with 2 Corinthians 3:3).

Boaz would not dishonor Ruth
Let's understand the literal meaning of "uncover his feet" (Ruth 3:4). The reader should be aware that the sexually permissive society in which we live is a far cry from the social values of Ruth's time."Those who interpret a sexual relation in the events reflect their twentieth-century cultural conditioning of sexual permissiveness. They fail to appreciate the element of Ruth's trust that Boaz would not dishonor her whom he wanted for his wife. They fail to appreciate the cultural taboos of Ruth's time that would have prevented a man of Boaz's position from taking advantage of Ruth, thereby destroying her reputation and perhaps endangering his own" (Huey, p. 538).

The moral character of Boaz and Ruth remains intact.
Boaz knew of another kinsman more closely related to Ruth than he. Boaz, manifesting exemplary integrity, addressed the situation straightforwardly: "There is a kinsman nearer than I," he told Ruth. "Stay this night, and in the morning it shall be that if he will perform the duty of a near kinsman for you-good; let him do it. But if he does not want to perform the duty for you, then I will perform the duty for you, as the LORD lives!" (Ruth 3:12, 13).The unfolding drama starkly contrasts the two men. The nearer relative reacted agreeably to Boaz's mention of Naomi's land of inheritance, but, when Boaz noted the added responsibility of redeeming Ruth's inheritance, the man quickly declined. "And the near kinsman said, 'I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I ruin my own inheritance. You redeem my right of redemption for yourself, for I cannot redeem it. Buy it for yourself'" (Ruth 4:6, 8).Today, as we read the account of Ruth, we know that the closest relative unknowingly denied himself a great opportunity. Boaz not only redeemed all of Naomi's inheritance, he claimed Ruth's as well."Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, I have acquired as my wife, to raise up the name of the dead on his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brethren and from the gate of his place. You are witnesses this day. And all the people said, 'We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman who is coming to your house like Rachel and Leah, the two who built the house of Israel; and may you prosper in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. May your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring which the LORD will give you from this young woman'" (Ruth 4:10-12).So God blessed Naomi and Ruth through Boaz. Boaz took Ruth as his wife, and she bore him a son. Then Naomi's friends said to her: "Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a near kinsman [redeemer]; and may his name be famous in Israel!" (Ruth 4:14).Ruth became a forebear of JesusGod blessed Ruth's faithfulness with her son, whom she named Obed. It was through Obed that Ruth became the great-grandmother of King David and direct ancestor of our Savior, Jesus Christ.Who would have thought Naomi would return to Bethlehem with only her Moabite daughter-in-law, Ruth? Who could have guessed that Ruth would figure in the lineage of Jesus Christ? No human being could have worked out this scenario. Faith in God and God's purpose contribute to such miraculous results.Had Ruth, a Moabitess, not proved faithful to her Israelite mother-in-law, she would not have returned with her, nor would Ruth have met and married Boaz, nor would she have had a son, Obed, who would become an ancestor of David and Jesus Christ.Think for a moment all that worked against such an extraordinary outcome. By chance, Ruth met Naomi's son, Mahlon, whose family was forced by hardship to live as resident aliens in her country of Moab. By chance, she married Mahlon. By chance, her father-in-law, her brother-in-law and her husband all died in her homeland.By chance, she insisted on returning with Naomi to Israel, to live as an alien in a strange land, away from her family, relatives, religion, homeland. By chance, she met Boaz and gained the opportunity to be redeemed and married.By chance, Boaz married her, and together they had a son who figured in the direct lineage of the very Son of God.Or did all of this occur by chance? To the casual observer, it might seem as if this all happened by chance. But, for those who live by faith-the same faith that Jesus Christ exercised here on earth-it becomes obvious that these miraculous events were directed by Almighty God. Ruth defied all the odds, and, even though she was a gentile, figures directly in the physical lineage of our Savior.Ruth's faithful example extends far beyond her physical lineage. She figures prominently as a forerunner of spiritual Israel, the Church of God. She typifies the Old Testament prophecy to Abraham of the New Covenant Church, which would include gentiles and Israelites alike: "And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed" through Jesus Christ (Genesis 12:3).

Ruth's example acknowledged
Ruth's relationship to God while living among Israelites is aptly described by Peter in the New Testament when God gave the first gentiles His Holy Spirit: "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality, but in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him" (Acts 10:34, 35).God's impartiality is a bountiful blessing that neither Ruth, Boaz, nor Naomi could know during their time. But we are privileged to know such inspiring truths.Ruth's example of faith was customarily recited in the temple and later in the synagogues during the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost. Her example helps to signify our role and salvation in God's Church.For instance, in Leviticus 23, God identifies two loaves of leavened bread offered during the Feast of Weeks: "You shall bring from your habitations two wave loaves of two-tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour; they shall be baked with leaven. They are the firstfruits to the LORD" (Leviticus 23:17).These two loaves of leavened bread represent, at once, God's faithful disciples in both the old and new dispensations, but they also represent the two separate and now fused races of people who comprise the Church: gentiles and Israelites.The leaven signifies our human nature, in a general sense, and the sin that so easily besets us (compare 1 Corinthians 5:6, 7 with Matthew 16:12 and Hebrews 12:1). The baked loaves show that all God's people, whether gentile or Israelite, whether part of the old or new dispensation, will have their faith forged through the fiery trials experienced in this life (1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 1 Peter 1:7).The focus of the book of Ruth highlights the barley and wheat harvests in Palestine, a time of reaping rewards from hard work and a foretaste of humanity's spiritual redemption. Even Bethlehem means "the house of bread." This motif shows God's strict adherence to detail. But, in a broader sense, God's prophetic plan is revealed through the story of Ruth and its correlation to the entire New Testament.It is inspiring to read the contrast of Ruth's faith to that of the Israel of her time. Her undying devotion to Naomi and her redemption by Boaz attest to her humble obedience that transcends time, race and culture.

THE LOVE DIMENSION TO FRUITFULLNESS

2010-07-20T08:58:00.001-07:00

Love is a force that compels God’s power to work for you. When you walk in love, it is a proof that you are genuinely connected to God. And you can’t be connected to the source and not be fruitful. Everyone who walks in hatred is disconnected from the source of life. That means he is like a branch that has been cut off from the vine. He has no life in him so everything around him is bond to wither and die off.
Whosoever hateth his brother is a murdered: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him…

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God and every one that loveth is born of God……John 3:15, 4:7

Jesus said:

…thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

This is the first and great commandment

And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself

On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Matthew 22:37-40

Everything in the kingdom is founded on the platform of love. That means nothing works without love, especially love for God and for your neighbhour. Apostle Paul teaching on this subject in 1 Corinthians 13:2 said “if I have a faith that can move mountains and have not love, I am nothing.” Let love for God by your uppermost priority. Let it be the basis for everything you do. If you love God for who He is, He will abundantly bless you. Many people are only seeking miracles, they are not seeking God, that it why they go round and round in circles. Bishop Oyedepo often says that “The best of God is reserved for lovers of God”.

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. 1 Corinthians 2:9

Fruitfulness is one of the things God has prepared for you but you take delivery of it by expressing your love for Him. And to love God means to obey Him in all things. Jesus said,

If ye love Me, keep My commandments. John 14:15

Love is a commandment and as you comply with it, you will experience the hand of God in your life in a new way!

Have you been blessed by this message? if yes, click here now..

CONQUERING CONTROLLING POWERS.

2010-07-20T08:11:00.000-07:00

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" Eph. 6v12.

There are many things you never intended to do but somehow you found yourself doing them. These are controlling forces, "For the good that I would, I do not, but the evil which I would not, that I do. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members" Rom 7:16, 22-23.

There is a spiritual dimension to these habits, these controls. The are organized by hell, just to disconnect you from God.
When a man can see certain things constantly working against him, he should be able to say to himself, "there is a force at work here", and then be able to launch an attack against, in order to secure his victory.

Making vows, putting up determination and will-power are able to handle habits but spiritual controls can only be handled by superior spiritual power. Habits can be handled by your will or choice; but spiritual controls require much more than that. These spiritual controls are called "spiritual wickedness in heavenly places'. For instance, there are many men who have vowed never to beat their wives again. They have knelt down to pray and even asked for forgiveness but all to no avail. There are habits and there are controls. They are remote in nature, they are power of the air. But, I want you to know that your hour of deliverance has come. That wild anger, that depression you can't trace the source, you are jumping and praising the Lord this minute and the next minute you are frowning like the junior sister of diabolos or deputy devil are traceable to demonic controls.

At some other time, some evil forces would just come upon some individuals, and what you see next is their roaring like lions at their children. Some will even look at their own children and curse them. It is not that they wanted to do it, but there's a control from somewhere.

I want to let you know that your place in redemption has given you power to exercise authority and power to exercise authority over these controlling forces (John 1v12). You are already vested with power against unclean spirits, to cast them out and to subdue them. (Matt. 10:1; Jn. 8:32).
This is your hour of liberty.

Consider Your Ways

2010-07-20T07:32:00.000-07:00

Consider Your Ways

The Lord commands the people through Haggai to quit worrying about their own houses and get the temple – His house – rebuilt. “By means of a specific instance (the rebuilding of the temple), the book of Haggai is a relevant and timeless book on the need to put God's work first in one's life. For the prophet's society, rebuilding the temple would be the visible sign of the people's determination to put God first.” [ESV Study Bible, p. 1743]

The Old Testament temple was a building, a physical place. There was Solomon’s magnificent temple and Herod’s temple that Jesus knew, destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. We can also include the portable Tabernacle with Moses in the wilderness. For Christian believers, however, there is no special building or particular location for the temple. For us the temple is a spiritual construction.

About Himself, Jesus says: “I tell you, something greater than the temple is here” [Matt. 12:6] (All Scripture quotations from ESV)

Paul tells the Athenians: “The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man.” [Ac. 17:24]

Paul tells the Corinthian church: “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? . . . God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” [1 Cor. 3:16,17]

Paul further asks the Corinthians: “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?” [1 Cor. 6:19a]

Paul tells the Ephesians—“In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” [Eph. 2:22]

What shall we say then? The universal church of Jesus Christ and each of us as individual believers is the temple, God’s house. God resides in us everywhere and always. But what have we done with Him?

In Haggai the Lord asks: “Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes?” [Hag. 2:3]

Anyone 65 or 70 years old might remember when America was still nominally a Christian nation, with our “house” in reasonable repair. We recited the Lord’s Prayer, sang some hymns, and observed the real Christmas and Easter, not the winter solstice and the vernal equinox. Today, of course, a teacher would be fired and a student suspended or expelled for practicing what was once customary. The church no longer signifies. Jesus Himself no longer signifies. The worst is celebrated. The best is suffocated. Kids cannot share Jesus in public schools, but they can learn to put condoms on cucumbers and get pregnancy (abortion?) “counseling” if they forget how. Employees cannot share Jesus in the workplace, but they can lie, cheat and steal for the bottom line or for some political cutthroat.

In the August 1999 issue of American Family Association Journal, AFA President Don Wildmon wrote a quiet, but scathing indictment titled “That’s What Christians Do Now.” In it he outlines some of the major cultural outrages against Christian morality including abortion, pornography, no-fault divorce, homosexuality, illegitimacy, gambling and the dumbing down of the schools and TV. The article is spiced throughout with the refrain: “Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home. That’s what Christians do now.” And he concludes, “[D]on’t blame me, I didn’t do anything.” You can find the complete article at the Journal. The pews are full; the people are empty. Most of us didn’t do anything and have not done anything to advance God’s house if it meant any personal risk. What did Jesus do? What did Paul do? What did the martyrs do? What part of “Go, teach and make disciples” don’t we understand? Scripture says we will be persecuted and hated anyway.

Here is a headline pulled from today’s newspaper, albeit written 2,600 years ago: “You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes.” [Hag. 1:6]

Sound anything like our economy today? Could it be because we have forgotten God, put Jesus on the sidelines, and turned everything over to the atheist, secular humanists? Suppose we had kept the temple in good repair and followed the Christian virtues of honesty and thrift all along? Things might look a bit different. And talk about a bag with holes, I give you Washington, DC and Sacramento, CA. There’s more hole than bag. Is anybody on a fixed income? How do you like us so far? It helps to understand a distinction: charity is when you give voluntarily; altruism is when others take it out of your pocket and give it to whom they please, usually to get votes or pamper special interests.

Furthermore, says the Lord: “You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house.” [Hag. 1:9] Looks like the Israelites suffered an economic downturn also, but it was clearly the judgment of God. We know because He says so Himself. Some, if not many, will argue that our current disastrous condition is the judgment of God. There is really no way for us mere mortals to know for sure, but consider – God is omnipotent. He can make things happen or He can just allow things to happen, particularly when we are doing it to ourselves. Draw your own conclusions.

God created everything by speaking it into existence. Certainly he could have spoken a new temple into existence for Haggai’s people and He could do it for us. But, no. He wanted them, and He wants us to work for it, in spite of our prayers for some miraculous intervention. Why do we pray for things we should be doing for ourselves? “Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts” [Hag. 2:4b] Hark back to Ezra and Nehemiah and see how difficult it was in that day. It will be difficult for us, too. Nobody wants to be hated. It is easier to go along and get along, to show our toleration. However, the ABCs of “tolerance” in America these days amount to Anything But Christian.

“’Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.’”[Hag. 1:2] That was then, this is now. Guess what? Same, same. It really is time for us to get busy rebuilding our temple. Unfortunately, the kinder gentler, GAGA, personal piety brand of Christianity won’t get it done. We need up close and personal, in-your-face Christianity, using all the resources allowed us by Scripture and the First Amendment to the Constitution.

Like those in Nehemiah’s day working on the wall, we need to keep the trowel in one hand and the sword in the other.

If you have been blessed by this articles please, write us through: udemeng78@yahoo.com.

Remain eternally blessed in Jesus name. amen.

60 SECONDS WITH THE HOLY GHOST!

2010-07-20T07:27:00.000-07:00

It’s so important that you are sensitive to what the Spirit of God is doing at every stage of your life. Many have had difficulties because they have refused to recognize and yield to the ministry of the Holy Spirit. As such, they live ordinary lives. If you only knew the importance of God’s guidance in your life, you would not live another moment without it.

The Word of God shows us the path to life; but also, there is something worship does for you. Jesus said, the Father seeks those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth. There is a connection to the Spirit that worship brings, and this produces the blessings of the anointing and revelation. A time of worship brings you visions, opens opportunities and transports you.

Worship does not need to be long to be effective. Sixty seconds with the Holy Ghost is greater than five years of travail. It will turn you from a pauper to a prince overnight.

The Christian is not called to live an ordinary life. Your father in heaven never created you in His image to live ordinarily. Understand the times and transcend the normal life for a time with the Spirit that would catapult you to heights unimagined.

This is the call of the Spirit to you. Take time out this season to worship God and commune with the Holy Spirit; do it every day till it becomes a part of your life. Then you will see the barriers crumble before you; the limitations and insecurities you experience would become a thing of the past, and you’ll rise to the place of the champion that you are; winning everyday and blessing your world with His presence.
This is the heritage of the children of God.

God bless you.

FRIENDSHIP: NOT WHAT YOU THINK…

2010-07-20T07:18:00.000-07:00

The scripture of Mark 2:1–5 records one of my favorite biblical story of friendship. It is about four men who took their paralyzed friend to Jesus to be healed. As I reflected on the story, I could not help but be amazed at their tenacity in going the extra mile for their friend.

In my imagination, I believe that they had heard about Jesus and his amazing powers of healing and decided to take their friend to see him. They got him ready and went to the house where Jesus was preaching. As they approached the house, they saw a large number of people. “So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them” (Mark 2:2). The crowd was so huge, try as they might pushing bodies aside to force a gap, they could not get to the front door. Nevertheless, they were not about to give up. They walked around the house looking for a window or some opening that they could get their friend through; however, they were unsuccessful. Then they decided to try the roof! They most likely had to build a makeshift ladder or devise some other method of lifting their friend up to the roof. I picture them carrying him precariously up the side of the house, pulling and pushing as they found footholds to make their way to the roof. The wobbly ride up may have been scary for the sick friend, but the thought of being healed would have put aside his fear. Once they got up on the roof, they had to identify the exact spot where Jesus was in the house and then began digging there. It probably took them some time to dig through the roof because it was no small peephole, but an opening large enough to pass their friend through. However, they did it! “Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on” (Mark 2:4).

Visualize, if you can, the face of the owner of the house as he saw a hole appearing in his roof. Most likely, his eyes bulged and mouth opened wide as he gazed up again and again in disbelief. His first thought was probably that it might be rodents, but as the hole got larger and larger right before his eyes, he knew that could not possibly be the case. He may have tried to make his way outside to see what was going on but got stuck because of the crowd. Surely, he must have been distraught as he witnessed the destruction of his property. Others too may have been looking up, incredulous at seeing the paralytic being lowered into the house.

In our lives today we can certainly learn from the actions of these men in building friendships of our own. It is great to have one best friend, but how much more enriched our lives would be if we have a few best friends. Think about the wealth of love that can exist through these friendships. We can have best friends in different areas, at different times, and for a short or long period in our lives. They can come in different shapes, sizes, and ethnicities, and with a range of emotions from joy to pain. What is important with valued relationships is that we invest the time to nourish them. Friends often are a reflection of who we are and they help to mold and shape us. It is said that we attract friends who bring out either the worst or best in us. But we should bring the best of ourselves so as to form authentic relationships. Friends don’t have to be perfect, but they should be genuine. The men who persevered with their sick friend exhibited true qualities that any good friend should possess: faithfulness, caring, trust, patience, persistence, and love. Today we can build, or strengthen, our friendships by their example.

Faithfulness
These men did not just take their friend to see Jesus and leave him there. Nor, did they turn away when they saw the crowd. Sometimes friends leave when the going gets rough. One might lose money, job, or home, and the friends that one counted on do not stick around. Obviously, these types are not true friends and were probably in the relationship for all the wrong reasons. We need friends who are reliable and who will come through for us. Of course, there will be times when one friend cannot meet an immediate need (which is another reason why we should have many best friends), but the reason should not be unfaithfulness or lack of trying to accommodate the need. We are also tested when one of our friends is unavailable. If our relationship is authentic, we should be understanding rather than resentful. The four men were faithful and they never gave up, but stood by their sick friend’s side until he was healed. Look at the marvelous gift they received because of their faith—their friend was freed of his illness!

Caring
This probably was not the first time they sought a cure for their friend. Through his illness the friends most likely took him to doctors and healers, and perhaps even nursed him themselves. There may have been times when the sick friend wanted to give up, but the friends would encourage and uplift him. It is good to be surrounded by friends in times of need. Their support and prayers help to sustain us, and their presence can soothe us. Of course, one must be open to receiving help. Sometimes a person may hide a need, hindering another from being a blessing to them. God gave some of us the gifts of sharing and caring and this may be the only way we can help. True friends take off the barriers laying bare the needs, and the care is lovingly given.

Trust
The sick friend put his life into the hands of his friends, and they came through for him. He also trusted them not to drop him as they carried him up the building and then lowered him down through the hole. It is good to have several friends who are loyal and can be called on in any emergency; with whom we can speak freely and confidentially, knowing they will not betray us; and with whom we can share our dreams and aspirations, knowing that they want the best for our lives. They are complete in themselves; hence there is no jealously or competition with each other. Nonetheless, trusting someone is not always easy. We do not like to reveal our emotions and struggles, and in the process of holding back and hiding our hurts we lose out on forming great friendships. Trust is a two-way street. We have to earn the trust of others by proving that we are responsible and can be held accountable.

Patience
I am sure there may have been times when the sick friend or the others were tired and wanted to give up. Dealing with that kind of illness, especially with the stigma attached to it, could not have been easy. It called for a tenacious spirit. When things go wrong in any kind of friendship, we have to be patient and ride the waves of dissention until things get right again. These are not the times to wander away or get caught up in one’s own life. There will be occasions when the issue is as simple as a difference of opinion, but one may see it as a monumental problem. It may be easy to solve the problem if the friend changes a pattern of behavior that is destructive. However, the friend may not see it your way or believe that there is anything wrong with the behavior. In such cases, one has to be patient in letting the friend sort it out, but be available to support and comfort when the friend is ready.

Persistence
The friends of the sick man showed up and took action. They persevered and he benefited from their determination. There will be times when we have to push a friend beyond what she believes she is capable of, which may entail telling some truths that she is uncomfortable in facing. Persistence can also take the form of assisting her with completing a college application, urging her to follow up on her dreams, or simply being on the other end of the phone in the middle of the night. Even when we are unable to be there physically, a friend should still know that she can depend on us at all times.

Love
I cannot say what brought these friends together, but they shared a common bond of love for their friend. I think that when they reached the building and observed that there was no way of getting through the door, they evaluated the situation, came up with a plan, and executed it. They were unified in that goal and were successful despite the odds. I am inspired by their audacity and fortitude. This exhibition of love stood the test of time. It surely was a mental and physical strain on all of them, but their love conquered all and their efforts were rewarded when Jesus forgave the friend's sins and he got up and walked.

“When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven" (Mark 2:5). Similarly, our friendships should demonstrate this kind of love for each other. For those who do enjoy such relationships, what a joy to their souls. For those who do not, what a blessing to receive.
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Roll the Stone Away

2010-07-20T06:19:00.003-07:00

Sisyphus does not usually tread the dusty streets of Jerusalem. He has never appeared in a Paschal reading, nor was he ever mentioned in an Easter sermon.

But this Easter, I thought of him. That ancient man of Grecian myth, forever doomed to roll the stone of his judgment up the hill, forever doomed to watch it slip from his grasp and tumble to the bottom, just as he struggled to reach the crest.

A man without hope. A man without a future.

I pictured him in my mind: hoary with the eternal passing of time, his back bent and hunched and broken from the weight of the stone. His hands roughened and bleeding from scraping against the unfeeling rock. His clothing torn, dirtied, bloodied. But most of all, his face. The helpless look of an immortal soul. The haunted, desperate emptiness in his eyes. Trapped. Voiceless. Hopeless.

Do you know that look? Have you felt that burning, aching pain?

I know that stone. I have rolled it before me, in different shapes and guises, many times. The stone is my sin. My judgment. The crushing weight of knowing that I failed ... failed my Lord and myself worse than I ever imagined possible. Failed repeatedly. Failed ignominiously. Failed completely.

I condemn myself to rolling that stone before me. I reproach myself day and night for the wickedness, ignorance, or willfulness which led me in the broad path of destruction. I curse my shortsightedness; my blindness.

And the longer I roll that stone before me, the deeper the hurts run.

I question my worth before God. My ability to accomplish anything for him. I doubt that I can make wise decisions ... or perhaps any decisions at all.

My days and nights run together in endless misery. Purpose is gone. Dreams are crushed. Hope is destroyed, trodden down beneath my aching feet.

I long to reach God. To come before him once again. So I push the stone before me ... inch by inch, punishing myself in order to appease what I believe to be his wrath, striving to gain in my own strength the right to stand before him.

And the stone slips.

I watch Sisyphus in my mind's eye. Watch as the stone rolls down the steep hill, gaining momentum as it goes.

His frame trembles with despair. His back, though temporarily not burdened, is still bent. His limbs are crooked from long days and nights, weeks and months, of straining against the stone. His crabbed figure, a tormented silhouette, begins its aching descent down the hill.

I feel for him. I feel with him. In that moment, I am he. I, too, have been grotesquely distorted and tortured by the weight of my sin and my condemnation.

I watch as he makes his painstaking way down the hill. Over grass he cannot feel, beneath a flaming sky he cannot see. For his eyes are blinded. Turned in. Sightless.

The ground levels out, and his breathing grows less hoarse. It is easy to follow the track of the stone ... a deep depression mars the way of its passing.

He stops suddenly, with a sharp intake of breath. The track terminates at the mouth of a cave. But the stone is so large, it could not have gone in it ... yet it is not there. His questioning gaze scans the surroundings uneasily.

And his eyes find the stone. Rolled to the side of the tomb.

The stone has been rolled away.

Rolled away, by a hand not his own.

Set to rest, by an authority above his own.

And a voice from behind him calls his name - my name - and I whirl with new strength and joy to see the One who has rolled away the stone.

Does God forgives all sins?

2010-07-20T06:15:00.001-07:00

Most Christians, and sadly many clergy, believe God forgives all sins except one, the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. “Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.” (Matthew 12:31) But that misunderstanding is reading the Bible out of context and making doctrine, not of the totality of God’s Word, but out of a single verse that is meant to be only a part of its complete tapestry.

This biblical simplification has deceived so many, and in the process denied the very same their Christian inheritance of everlasting life, as an unforgiven sinner cannot enter the Kingdom. And who is the architect of deceiving those of faith? As always, it is Satan. He knows he cannot claim the followers of Christ, as no one can snatch us from God’s hands. “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (John 10:28) But, and this is where Satan strikes, we can exercise our God-given free will and walk away from the unmerited and loving gift of salvation. Of course, no one in their spiritual right mind would turn from the Holy City in exchange for hell, so Satan deceives us into believing we can live a profligate life without everlasting consequences. In this case, he has us believing only a fraction of the gestalt God provides on the forgiveness of sins. And because so many of us want to do-our-own-thing, we readily embrace a false doctrine that says Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross washes away our continued disobedience so we may have everlasting life.

But that’s not true.
One of the most often overlooked and/or misunderstood books of the Bible is Hebrews, specifically chapter 10, verses 26 through 31. “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
These verses, perhaps more than others, make clear God’s intent regarding the sacrifice for our sins; i.e., there is far more involved than the sacrifice of Christ, as the other part of the equation is our response to His sacrifice. That’s what Satan is trying to hide from us. The Bible says that if we continue in our sins after knowing the truth, “there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.” And that would include the sacrifice of the Cross. And without the blood washing us clean, no one is innocent enough to be in the presence of the Lord.
But, and this is where the rubber meets the road, the matter doesn’t end there. The Bible says that continued sin not only removes the covering of the Cross, but makes us “worthy” for a punishment in excess of dying without mercy. And just in case there’s any misunderstanding, the subject is punctuated with the terrifying admonition that, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

The Bible is replete with God's love for His children, and this is another instance. Yes, some might see the warning in Hebrews as harsh, but those who know God see it as another example of His loving care. He wants us to be saved, and for His goal to be realized we have to know the truth. His truth. The only truth that matters.

Let go of the unforgiveable

2010-07-20T06:14:00.001-07:00

Jesus gave strict instructions to "bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." (Luke 6:28). Doing such things is one way we step further into our true "sonship" in Jesus Christ. Understand, being born into God's family is a gift, but taking on his traits - such as forgiveness - is a choice. True forgiveness comes when we choose to give up our right to our feelings in exchange for the God's will in a given situation.

If you are harboring incomplete forgiveness (i.e., bitterness) you might want to consider the following:

1) Where would you be if God did not forgive you for some the things you've done, are doing, and will do?

2) What blessings of your own might you be blocking due to a lack of forgiveness?

3) What negative impact(s) is/are unforgiveness having on your life?

For me, the most profound notion that taught me to forgive is this: I was warring with myself, because my object had no idea how I was feeling. But whether covert or overt, unforgiveness hurts you more than the other person!

Before you decide to keep unforgiveness alive, ask yourself this:

Will this matter next year, next month, tomorrow, and above all, will it impact my eternity? If the answer is "No", you’ve got several reasons to let it go!

One Powerful Benefit of Prayer

2010-07-20T06:10:00.000-07:00

"Prayer is one of the greatest and most excellent means of nourishing the new nature, and of causing the soul to flourish and prosper." These were some very meaningful words spoken by Jonathan Edwards over 200 years ago in his famous sermon on prayer. Times have changed and so has society, but Edward's message remains timeless. Prayer has not changed nor has its amazing benefits.

There are no limits to the rewards of praying to a God who is forgiving, patient, and good to us 100% of the time. In fact, the list truly is endless, and it's different for every individual, but the following are a few benefits that immediately come to my mind.

First, what is prayer? Prayer is not necessarily the same for everyone, but generally speaking, it is a means of communication with our heavenly Father. It can be done alone or among a group of people. It can be spoken or even sang aloud, or thought inside one's head. Sometimes no words are necessary at all, but rather it is a period of meditative thought and time spent between God and an individual.

Perhaps it is this meditative process that gives prayer one of its most outstanding benefits. Prayer is healing. Studies have actually shown that those who pray are physically and emotionally healthier than those who do not. Those who suffer depression, anxiety, and even terminal illnesses often have a quicker healing time, and more successful survival rate. Folks recover from illnesses quicker when they are able to faithfully steep themselves in prayer.

Have you ever had to work with a difficult co-worker, or is there something specific that is hard to deal with in your marriage?

Another powerful benefit of prayer is that it strengthens our relationships. When we pray for those we know and love, it helps us to understand that person a little bit better. It allows us to be more patient and understanding in frustrating situations, and knowing that He will answer our prayers in His time makes it easier. Perhaps it is because we are taking action and feel ownership in our relationships, but most likely it's God's amazing will that helps to strengthen our relationships through prayer.

Not only does prayer strengthen our earthly relationship, but it also draws us closer to the Lord. It truly helps us establish a relationship with Him, and understand more fully who he is and how he performs miracles in our lives every day. After you've begun to pray on a daily basis, you suddenly begin to see Jesus and His miracles everywhere. You see Him in the sunset, feel Him in great gratitude for the roof over your head and the food on your table. You know Jesus; you yearn to be more like him.

"Prayer that is constantly and diligently attended to is one of the best means of leading not only an amiable and pleasant life; but also a life of much sweet fellowship with Christ, and of abundant enjoyment of the light of his countenance," says Edwards in his speech. To put it quite simply, when we pray, we are growing closer to the Lord we love. We are easing the struggles in our lives and improving our relationships, all the while getting to know Him by learning His word, and applying it to our lives in many meaningful ways.

Why does God not grants our requests always?

2010-07-20T06:04:00.001-07:00

But since you rejected me when I called and no one gave heed when I stretched out my hand, since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke. Proverbs 1:24-25
For your hands are stained with blood, your fingers with guilt. Your lips have spoken lies,
and your tongue mutters wicked things. Isaiah 59:3
But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; James 1:6-7
For what hope has the godless when he is cut off, when God takes away his life? Does God listen to his cry when distress comes upon him? Job 27:8-9

You who hate good and love evil; who tear the skin from my people and the flesh from their bones; who eat my people's flesh, strip off their skin and break their bones in pieces; who chop them up like meat for the pan, like flesh for the pot?" Then they will cry out to the LORD, but he will not answer them. At that time he will hide his face from them because of the evil they have done. Micah 3:2-4
You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, and I destroyed my foes. They cried for help, but there was no one to save them to the LORD, but he did not answer. Psalm 18:40-41
The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' Luke 18:11-12
Therefore this is what the LORD says: 'I will bring on them a disaster they cannot escape. Although they cry out to me, I will not listen to them. The towns of Judah and the people of Jerusalem will go and cry out to the gods to whom they burn incense, but they will not help them at all when disaster strikes. You have as many gods as you have towns, O Judah; and the altars you have set up to burn incense to that shameful god Baal are as many as the streets of Jerusalem.'
"Do not pray for this people nor offer any plea or petition for them, because I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their distress. Jeremiah 11:11-14
If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered. Proverbs 21:13
If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable. Proverbs 28:9
Although they fast, I will not listen to their cry; though they offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Instead, I will destroy them with the sword, famine and plague. Jeremiah 14:12
You place defiled food on my altar. "But you ask, 'How have we defiled you?' "By saying that the LORD's table is contemptible. When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?" says the LORD Almighty. "Now implore God to be gracious to us. With such offerings from your hands, will he accept you?"-says the LORD Almighty. Malachi 1:7-9
When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. James 4:3
If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. Psalm 66:18
We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. John 9:31
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. 1 Peter 3:7

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. 1 Peter 3:12
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Matthew 6:7.
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 1 John 5:14

MAINTAINING A CONTINUOUS FLOW OF GOD'S BLESSINGS

2010-07-20T06:01:00.000-07:00

The way we multiply God's blessings in our life is by understanding and applying the law of sowing and reaping. There is the need to sow more seeds and to spend time in preparing the soil, but in this article we are going to learn that we also need to take the time to get rid of the weeds in our spiritual field and that the soil needs to be kept moist.

We said, that if we want to increase God's blessing in our life, we have to sow more seeds, prepare the soil of our hearts, take care of the weeds and keep your soil moist.

Take care of the weeds.

If you ever planted a garden, you know that weeds, if they are not taken care of, can overgrow any kind of flowers or vegetables that you planted. The same is true in our spiritual life. The spiritual weeds will kill your faith.

Jesus teaches that very clearly in the parable of the sower in Matthew chapter 13. Here he talks about the seed of the Word of God that is sown on different grounds. Some of the seed fell on grounds full of weeds. What happened? The weeds choked the seeds of God's Word and it died. No fruit! No harvest!

The living Word of God that reveals all of God's blessings to you can and will be killed by weeds. What is the most dangerous weed in our life? What is the number one faith-killer?

Jesus tells us in Matthew 13:22

"The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God's word, but all too quickly the message is produced out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced."

If you don't take care of the weeds in form of the worries in your life, the Word of God can and will not produce any fruit. Remember, the fruit of the Word of God is faith. If you do not have faith in the promises of God, you will not see these promises manifest in your life. So let's pull out the weeds.

Keep the soil moist

We keep the soil of our life moist by having fellowship with our Lord Jesus and with other fellow Christians. When you read the Bible and pray, you have fellowship with God. The Holy Spirit will reveal God's blessings and promises to you and encourage and inspire you to take hold of those promises.

When we have fellowship with other Christians, we encourage each other to do good works (acts of kindness) and to live our life God's way. We care for each other and by doing so we are pulling weeds and preparing our lives for a great and plentiful harvest of God's blessings.

Let's sum it up

It is one of God's blessings when a farmer, after he prepares his fields and puts the seed in, reaps a great and plentiful harvest. Without sowing there is no harvest. This is not only a universal principle but it is a principle set in motion by God himself, the creator of the universe. This principle of sowing and reaping is one of God's great blessings and it is also backed up by his promise. After the flood in Genesis chapter 8 God made a promise to Noah and said: While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest will not cease. That principle, God said, is promised to all people at all times, while the earth remains. First there is the Seedtime, then a waiting period but then the harvest. My dear Christian sisters and brothers, let's keep sowing good seeds and reaping great harvests. And let's have fun doing it.

God's definition of Love.

2010-07-20T05:21:00.000-07:00

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
—I Corinthians 13:4-8a (NIV)This verse describes the characteristics of true love. These qualities can certainly be found in the person of Jesus Christ, and they can be found in all truly loving relationships. The problem with trying to “find” love in our dating lives, is that too often we don't look for these characteristics. Rather we look at physical appearance, popularity, or wealth. These are not the qualities that God looks at and neither should we.
But the LORD said to Samuel, “…The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
—I Samuel 16:7b (NIV)

Love is best seen as devotion and action, not an emotion. Love is not exclusively based on how we feel. Certainly our emotions are involved, but they cannot be our only criteria for love. True devotion will always lead to action—true love.
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with ACTIONS and in truth.
I John 3:18 (NIV)

Christ was devoted to us enough to give his own life for us (Romans 5:8), even when he didn't feel like it (Matthew 26:39).

“Love patiently and passionately bears with others for as long as patience is needed;

Love doesn’t demand others to be like itself; rather, it is so focused on the needs of others that it bends over backwards to become what others need it to be;

Love is not ambitious, self-centered, or so consumed with itself that it never thinks of the needs or desires that others possess;

Love doesn’t go around talking about itself all the time, constantly exaggerating and embellishing the facts to make it look more important in the sight of others;

Love does not behave in a prideful, arrogant, haughty, superior, snooty, snobbish, or clannish manner;

Love is not rude and discourteous – it is not careless or thoughtless, nor does it carry on in a fashion that would be considered insensitive to others;

Love does not manipulate situations or scheme and devise methods that will twist situations to its own advantage;

Love does not deliberately engage in actions or speak words that are so sharp; they cause an ugly or violent response;

Love does not deliberately keep records of wrongs or past mistakes;

Love does not feel overjoyed when it sees an injustice done to someone else but is elated, thrilled, ecstatic, and overjoyed with the truth;

Love protects, shields, guards, covers, conceals, and safeguards people from exposure;

Love strains forward with all its might to believe the very best in every situation;

Love always expects and anticipates the best in others and the best for others;

Love never quits, never surrenders, and never gives up;

Love never disappoints, never fails, and never lets anyone down.”

Wow, what a tall order to fill. However, it is in the Word of God and He says that we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. I believe that the first place we should practice this kind of love, God’s kind of love, is in our homes, with our spouse and children. I have also found that it’s the hardest place. It’s those we are most intimately related to that can offend and hurt us the most. Sometimes it’s much easier to let an offense go when it’s someone we aren’t in that close of a relationship with. But when it comes to those in our very own home, it seems like the most difficult thing in the world to do at times.

James 1:19 (Amplified) says “Understand this, my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear [a ready listener], slow to speak, slow to take offense and get angry”. When someone has offended us, it seems the first thing we want to do is open our mouths. When our spouse or children do something that has offended us, has caused us to feel hurt and become angry, if you’re anything like me, the last thing your flesh wants to do is walk in the God kind of love. If I may be quite honest, more often than not, my first thought isn’t to be patient and kind. I’m so thankful for 2 Corinthians 3:18 (Amplified) which says, “And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [who is] the Spirit. What hope and encouragement there is in that scripture for me. As I continue to behold Him through the Word of God concerning His definition of love in this portion of Scripture in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, I am constantly being transfigured into His image and able to walk in this God kind of love.

When we have been offended by someones actions it is an occasion for us to stumble into sin. One of the definitions of offense in the Strong’s Lexicon #4625, is “occasion to fall”. It is also defined as a “stumbling block”. When we become offended and feel hurt and angry, it is an occasion to fall into the sin of unforgiveness. Then, if we are unwilling to forgive, that unforgiveness turns into bitterness and resentment. Needless to say, these things destroy relationship as well as poison your own soul. They cause divorces, break up of relationships between friends and family. The only way to keep that offense from taking root is to forgive the offense. We are commanded to forgive others as we have been forgiven.

There are times when we are to confront the one who has offended us. Luke 17:3 says, “…If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. There are many times I wish I would have prayed and asked the Lord if I am to speak to someone about an offense that I feel someone has committed against me. If I would have prayed first the Holy Spirit could have given me the right words to say and the right spirit in which to confront that person. When I go to someone with a judgmental attitude it will only stir up more strife. We must remember that we too, have been offensive to others at times. The whole point in going to the one who has offended you is that you might be reconciled, not so you can make sure that other person knows how rotten they treated you and what a low down scoundrel they have been. We must go with a humble attitude, desiring to clear the offense out of the way so that we can be reconciled with that person.

Well, I’ll tell you what I’m going to do. I am going to print 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 and meditate on it until love oozes out of me like honey. How many marriages, friendship, family relationships could be saved if we would love as God has loved us? We will make mistakes, but that’s what repentance and forgiveness have been given to us for. Relationships are the most important thing we have. Material things can be replaced, people can’t. Don’t wait another day to forgive and begin practicing loving as God does.

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Covenant prerequisite for Supernatural Empowerment.

2010-07-20T05:15:00.000-07:00

Covenant prerequisite for Supernatural Empowerment.

In this kingdom there is no free lunch. Every empowerment has a cost price; it is neither free nor cheap. In the adventure for God’s power, one prerequisite that is a must is Consecration. It is a price you have to pay. Consecration is a vital prerequisite for God’s visitation. (Ex. 19:10,11; Matt. 5:8). God demands for it from everyone who desires empowerment (acts 2: 38).

What is consecration?
Consecration is separation from sin and separation unto God. It is a process of cleansing, washing and purging to prepare us for God’s usefulness.
Why is consecration necessary? God is holy and He inhabits only holy vessels. Every time God wants to do mighty He looks for consecrated vessels. It is your cleanliness that guarantee your usefulness. (1Sam. 12:3-5).
Consecration brings us into alignment with God. It is the key that determines your levels of empowerment. God assesses you on the index of consecration to determine the measure of power to give to you. Sin is power-pollutant and a sinker. Sin turns God’s eye away from you while righteousness draws His attention towards you. “The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteousness…(Ps.34:15, Habaku 1:13).

Sin manifests itself through our carnal desires which are called the deeds of the flesh. That is why the scripture commands us expressly to mortify these vices, “Mortify therefore your members….fornication, uncleanliness, inordinate affection, covetousness…” Col.3:5,6.

How do I arrive at consecration?
Consecration is unattainable without the help of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that keeps us away from sin. The Bible says ‘walk in the spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Gal. 5:16. Nothing destroys the works of the flesh like the Holy Spirit. When you are in the Spirit, sin no longer have power over you.
The Holy Spirit is the mortifier that helps to destroy the deeds of the flesh (Rom. 8:13). Also, He energizes us with the spirit of love for righteousness (2Tim. 1:7; Ps. 45:6-7). When you live by this Spirit you lose taste for fornication, stealing and covetousness, etc. This is why we must engage the power of the Holy Ghost at all times for consecration.

How do I engage the Holy Spirit for Consecration?
Praying in the Holy Ghost increases your affection for God and hatred for sin (Jude. 1:20). Praying constantly in the Spirit draws you closer to God, it keeps you clean, purifiers your thoughts and make you holy, sanctified and consecrated.
Sin is not ordinary. It is described as mystery because there are many things people do and yet don’t know why they do it. (2Thes. 2:7). You can only deal with those mysteries by engaging the mysterious language of the Holy Spirit.
Satan is not after your flesh but after the Holy Spirit inside you. He wants to disconnect you from your source of power by making you indulge in sin. Call for the help of the Holy Spirit everyday in prayers against the spirit of iniquity. Pray for the baptism of the spirit of Holiness in order to enjoy ceaseless flow of God’s power in your life.

How to Multiply God's Blessings.

2010-07-20T05:12:00.000-07:00

The way to multiply God’s blessings in your life is by applying the law of sowing and reaping. If a farmer wants a greater harvest, then he just has to sow more seeds into the ground. He has to prepare the field more carefully, take better care of the weeds and water more regularly. In this article I want to show you how to apply these principles to your spiritual life.

Many of God’s blessings come to us no matter what we do. They just flow to us out of the goodness of God. He is working his good pleasures in our life every single day and we are not even realizing it. His mercy and grace for instance. You can’t do a thing to increase his mercies and his grace. They are just there for you every single day and they are new every morning.

His protection – God watches over you every moment of your life. The Bible says that God’s eyes are on the sparrow and he watches over you. You are the apple of his eye. He is your rock. He is your fortress.

Many other blessings are a privilege that we enjoy just by being a child of God. But then there are many blessings that have a little clause: “If you will... – then I will...”

This is the principle of sowing and reaping. And you know that if a farmer wants a greater harvest, then he just has to sow more seeds into the ground. He has to prepare the field more carefully, take better care of the weeds and water more regularly.

In the same way, if you want to increase God’s blessings in your life, you have to sow more seeds, prepare the soil of your heart, take care of the weeds and keep your soil moist.

Sow more seeds
I like the New Living Translation. It says in Luke 6:38:
“Give and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full – pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”

Often we think about money when we read this verse. But the principle here is: whatever we give or sow will not only return to us. Your return will always be much greater than what you sowed. Do you need a financial harvest then don’t be tight with your money. You always need some seed. So do not use all your limited finances to meet your needs. You have to use some as seed. Start out with small amounts. Then, as God blesses your faithfulness, sow more and more seeds.

Are you longing for some good Christian friendships? Sow seeds! Start to be kind and concerned about others. Show them that you care about them. Start to encourage others! Tell them that you appreciate them. Help them in practical ways. And soon you will see that your seed will produce a harvest of good friendships.

Do you think that you have nothing to give, that you have no seeds? Just read 2 Corinthians 9:10
“For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.”

Just ask God to show you what you can do, what you can sow and then step out in faith and plant your seeds in the ground. I promise you, your harvest is coming.

Prepare the soil
This does not need much explanation. Jesus says in Matthew 6:33:
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else (first), and live righteously (God’s way), and he will give you everything you need.”

Let me ask you a question: How much of your time, effort and resources goes towards the things of God? I tell you, I fall short on this one over and over again. That’s why we need to encourage each other to put God first. Isn’t it true, that we have time and money for so many things that we feel are so important. We have time to watch TV hours and hours. We spent time on our hobbies; we spend lots of money on our cars and so on. But we say we have no time to read the Bible. You will never find the time. You have to make the time for the most important things in your life: the things of God. The best way to prepare the soil of your heart to receive the blessings of God is to read and study the Bible, God’s living Word!

Let’s sum it up

The way to increase God’s blessings in your life is to understand the principle of sowing and reaping. If you give, you will receive. If you sow, you will reap. Ask God to show you what your seeds are and then step out in faith and sow those seeds and expect a plentiful harvest of God’s blessings.

CONFLCITS IN RELATIONSHIPS AND ITS NEGATIVE EFFECTS.

2010-07-20T05:06:00.000-07:00

Some couples have serious issues with constantly arguing in a relationship. In many cases, fighting happens so often that it becomes a type of bad habit in the relationship, happening ridiculously frequently. Though it is sometimes hard to break that habit, just as it is with any habit, this type of interaction needs to cease. There are several reasons that this is a very unhealthy way to live. Firstly, this type of consistent fighting can lead to harsh words and feelings, and even violence. It makes friends and loved ones very uncomfortable around you, and it can ultimately cause a break up in the relationship.

The first nasty result of constant fighting and arguing in a relationship is that there are harsh words said that cause harsh feelings. Saying, I'm sorry, is often not enough of a band-aid for some people. Many times, when people are angry at each other, even if they care a great deal for each other, they say things that they later regret and, at the time, do not even mean. Even if the argument is over and all is forgiven, this type of harshness sometimes hangs over into the relationship far after the altercation is over. Another thing these types of arguments can lead to is physical violence from either party. This is definitely a place you do not want this arguing to escalate to.

Another thing that can happen if you happen to argue with each other in the company of other people is that people will no longer wish to be around you as a couple. Having someone argue in front of you makes for a very uncomfortable situation. If this happens on such a regular basis that you become known for it, people will begin to decline social invitations, and may begin to avoid you both all together. Being known for constantly bickering is not a good way to be remembered by friends.

One final bad result of arguing all the time with your mate is probably the most obvious. Eventually, the arguing will become tiresome and too hurtful to bear. When this happens, it ultimately could lead to the break up of the relationship. Though at the time, breaking up may be the desirable alternative to consistent bickering, it is probably not the ultimate desire when the relationship first started. If you can find a way to get past the things that have been said before and forgive, you may be able to keep the relationship from falling apart.

The negative effects of constantly arguing in a relationship are not just on you and your spouse, though those are enough. Negative effects include harsh words and hurt feelings, sometimes escalating to violence, making others uncomfortable around the both of you, and breaking up. While these are all devastating effects to the couple itself, it is also devastating to those who are around and care for the couple as well. This type of conflict in a relationship is so negative and unhealthy, and if it is possible to resolve, it should be for the sake of the relationship.